After more than a year away from Walford some fans of the BBC One soap have predicted Shirley Carter’s comeback – and it has all to do with Denise Fox
EastEnders fans are convinced Shirley Carter is about to make an explosive comeback to Albert Square. The long-running BBC soap aired a heartbreaking exit for Shirley (played by Linda Henry) in December 2022 when her son Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) vanished at sea.
The pub landlord was trying to save Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and pregnant Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) jumped off a cliff into the sea. Shirley was also reeling from the death of her sister Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) after her corpse was found months after Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) had murdered her.
The loss of her sister and son was too much for Shirley and she waved goodbye to Walford on December 29, 2022. However, Shirley’s youngest son Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) returned to Albert Square in October and dropped a bombshell about his mum.
Dean told Linda Shirley had suffered a breakdown during her time away from the Square and was hurt that Linda hadn’t been in touch with her. Linda didn’t truly believe was Dean was telling her, and demanded he confirm an official diagnosis.
But Dean refusing to confirm what was wrong with Shirley and left Linda wondering if her former mum-in-law was well.
Meanwhile, during Thursday’s EastEnders episode (February 22), fans were left shocked after Denise Fox (Diane Parish) was section as she was experiencing psychosis following Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walter) murder..
But while Denise was taken away in an ambulance, some viewers took to X (Twitter) to predict Denise and Shirley’s path will now cross as they will reunite while seeking medical help.
One fan wrote: “Just an idea, now that Denise has been sectioned, do you think she’ll encounter Shirley at the same Mental Unit?! Dean has apparently sectioned Shirley (making it seem she wasn’t well) and Denise has Shirley as a room mate?”
A second replied: “Wasn’t Shirley’s last scene with Denise as well?”, while another chimed in with: “Linda, Denise, Dean, Jean, Phil, all need one Person…SHIRLEY CARTER!!! Also Shirley is needed to Put Elaine & Sharon in their places and flirt with George! #EastEnders.”
“When Denise and Shirl get out the mental health unit they’ll buy a flat together and we can have a Shirley and Hev type friendship again. Denise will divorce Jack and Raymond can join them in his new box room. #EastEnders”, added another.
