EastEnders icon hints at shock return after destroying her family with a curse during her exit
FORMER EastEnders star Annette Badland has teased a potential return to Albert Square- seven years on from her character's brutal exit.
Annette, 73, played Aunt Babe in the BBC soap from 2014 until her departure in 2017.
Annette appeared on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, where the presenter asked if she'd like to make a comeback to Walford.
The actress said: "Yes. Yes, I would", adding, "I say 'I'll be back' when? I don't know."
Alan pointed out how the character Babe not being killed off "leaves the door open to a degree."
To which Annette replied how she "loved" working with co-stars Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright.
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Viewers saw Babe's dramatic departure on-screen back in February 2017.
Her nephew Mick kicked her out of the Queen Vic after being caught trying to steal the pub's takings and having left sister Sylvie (Linda Marlowe) to die.
While removing her from the premises - and the family's lives - Mick warned Babe: "Don't come back here! Never!"
To which Babe declared "it ain't over" and that she'd back, a scenario yet to play out in the soap.
She added: "I curse you. I curse the lot of ya and hope you lose everything - and your precious pub."
In the years since, it appears the Carters' lives have played out how Babe would have wanted.
Mick went missing in December 2022 - and is presumed dead - after being lost at sea while trying to save Linda.
He had tragically been unaware that his former wife had already made it onshore.
As for Linda, her life took a further turn last Christmas when she murdered Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) while saving her best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
Linda and five other women, collectively "The Six", hid the body and covered up the circumstances - although more people have gradually become aware.
This includes Keanu's sister Bernie (Clair Norris), who has been sending Linda "poison pen letters" calling her a liar.
Linda's rapist Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), who has been imprisoned for Keanu's murder, has been meeting with Bernie.
The villain previously told her: “We’re getting to her, she’s close to breaking point.
“The fact that she was going to take the deal tells you everything you need to know.
Linda Carter's biggest EastEnders storylines
Linda arrived on the Square on Boxing Day in 2013, along with her husband Mick (Danny Dyer) and has been a hit with soap fans ever since.
Her first storylines revolved around the fact that she struggled to come to terms that her son Johnny is gay
In a storyline that had long-lasting repercussions, she was then raped by Mick's brother Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo).
She fell pregnant shortly after and then was left devastated emotionally when she gave birth to a premature baby after falling down the stairs.
Things soon got worse for Linda after she discovered that her husband Mick kissed their daughter-in-law Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), who was married to their veteran son Lee (Danny Hatchard).
One of her more memorable storylines was when she was accused of perverting the course of justice. This was after Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) is shot and she was falsely accused of attempted murder.
Over the years she has suffered from a variety of illnesses and disorders which include bulimia, alcoholism, and a secret battle with cervical cancer. After she gave birth to her youngest son Ollie (Harry Farr), she also had to deal with his autism diagnosis.
Although she and Mick seemed to be the perfect couple, the pair split up for a short time after she had an affair with Max Branning (Jake Wood). This lead to another pregnancy.
However, the pair finally got divorced after Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) set her eyes on Mick. She wanted the landlord all to herself and she lured Linda rival back into alcoholism to drive a wedge between them.
After this led to Mick's apparent death at sea, she struggled to adjust to life without her ex-husband and the true love of her life. This was just after the pair decided to have another go at their relationship.
Recently, Linda was the person who was at the very centre during 'The Six' storyline. She tried to save her best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) when she was being strangled by Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters). When she killed him with a meat thermometer, the group framed her rapist Dead Wicks after he returned to the square. Since then, she has struggled to cope.
"She was willing to sacrifice justice for Keanu just to satisfy her own deluded vendetta against me.
“It sounds like she put on quite the show at the Vic. Do they sound the actions of a woman who’s got nothing to hide?
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“Keep sending those letters. Ramp up the pressure and she’ll crack. You believe me now, don’t you? Linda knows who really killed your brother.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on iPlayer.
