EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders’ Linda Carter relives her adolescence next week, when she gets an invitation to her high school reunion. Initially unsure about attending, will Linda’s trip down memory lane be a happy one when she runs into old acquaintance Bea?
“You can’t blame Linda for being apprehensive about delving into her past,” begins our EastEnders insider. “The thought of seeing people you haven’t clapped eyes on for decades is a lot to get your head around – at least it is for Linda.
“At the same time, she’s itching to find out what her old classmates are up to, and curiosity ends up getting the better of her…”
After an eventful Christmas in Walford, the new year begins with Linda getting wind of the gathering of ex-pupils from her old school. She’s reluctant to go, partly because she doesn’t want to explain to everyone why childhood sweetheart Mick Carter isn’t with her. Could it be too painful a reminder of the happiness they once shared?
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Johnny can sense that his mum is conflicted, and encourages her to get her glad rags on and party like it’s the ’90s! Eventually Linda agrees, but only because Honey Mitchell agrees to be her plus one for moral support.
Arriving at the venue, Honey has to pretend she’s a former pupil to gain entry, so Linda introduces her as ‘Bea’, the name of someone from her class. Unfortunately, the fib catches up with them…
“The real Bea is there, and Linda is beyond mortified when she sidles up to her,” says our source. “As they get chatting there’s clearly history between these two, and it’s hard to tell if they are pleased to see each other or not!”
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Linda bristles when Bea recalls what Linda was like back in the day, and her version of events wildly differs from her own. What Bea has to say about the girl she knew as Linda Peacock is far from flattering, but is she telling the truth – or rewriting history?
Linda objects to Bea’s accusatory anecdotes, and feels the need to defend herself for being portrayed in such a negative light.
The tension sizzles, and a spiky Linda suddenly remembers why she didn’t even want to go to the party in the first place, so she and Honey leave. But they’re by no means free of Bea…
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“Honey later realises she accidentally picked up Bea’s bag instead of her own when they left!” reveals our informant.
“They have to find a way to return it, and as Linda calms down she reflects on what Bea said. Linda admits she wasn’t very nice back in her school days, and reckons she owes Bea an apology…”
Finding an address in Bea’s handbag, Linda decides to return the item in person, along with a slice of humble pie. Will Bea forgive Linda for her past behaviour? And what did Linda actually do?
EastEnders airs on Mondays – Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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