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EastEnders’ Danny Dyer rules out 'Dirty Den'-like return after Christmas exit

The actor has no intention of returning to the square

EastEnders,06-12-2022,6603,Mick Carter (DANNY DYER),***EMBARGOED TILL TUESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2022***, BBC, Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Danny Dyer as Mick Carter (BBC)

Danny Dyer has ruled out a potential return to EastEnders, stating simply that he "doesn't want to".

The fan favourite said goodbye to the series after nine years on Christmas Day, with his character Mick Carter seemingly meeting a watery grave.

Read more: EastEnders New Year spoilers: New year horror at the Slaters, betrayal shock for Phil

Appearing The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan on December 27th, Dyer was grilled about the final scenes and the idea that, with no body, he may still be alive to come back at some point in the future.

But Dyer wasn't having any of it, and told the host: "I don’t want to come back."

EastEnders,25-12-2022,6614-6615,Linda Carter;(KELLIE BRIGHT);Mick Carter (DANNY DYER);Janine Butcher (CHARLIE BROOKS),***EMBARGOED TILL 17TH DECEMBER 2022****, BBC, Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Linda, Mick and Janine (played by Kellie Bright, Danny Dyer and Charlie Brooks) in EastEnders (BBC)

Gilligan pointed out it wouldn't be the first time EastEnders had pulled the "fake death" loop hole in order to bring back iconic characters, with Leslie Grantham's 'Dirty' Den Watts coming back in 2003 after previously being "shot and killed" in 1989.

Grantham would remain on the show for two more years before he was killed off again (permanently this time) in 2005, with the actor passing in real life in 2008.

Read more: Danny Dyer says he was a 'car crash' before EastEnders turned his life around

Brushing off the potential of 'pulling a Dirty Den', Dyer said: "He [Grantham] was skint, he needed to come back. The geezer was on his arse. I don’t fancy it, Mo. I’ve done over 1,000 episodes."

Watch: Janine's lies catch up with her in Eastenders

Mick Carter and his long-standing complicated marriage to Linda (played by Kellie Bright) was beloved among fans, with the pair going through numerous horrific events including alcoholism, rape survival, and historic grooming trauma.

But the couple's strong bond was tested more than ever with the arrival of Janine (Charlie Brooks), who returned to the Square and made it her mission to get with Mick.

Read more: Danny Dyer heading to Australia to shoot first post-'EastEnders' part

The manipulative villain had tricked alcoholic Linda into relapsing, before framing her for crashing her car when driving with her baby.

Former EastEnders star Leslie Grantham currently 'fighting for his life' in hospital
Leslie Grantham, pictured with EastEnders' co-star Letitia Dean (PA)

Janine later got pregnant with Mick's baby, and the Queen Vic landlord begrudgingly married her out of a sense of responsibility, rather than actual love.

But Janine's plan came out in the open on Christmas Day, and resulted with her running to Dover, being chased by a now reunited Linda and Mick.

Read more: Danny Dyer reveals he sent himself to rehab to win back wife after hitting rock bottom

After a showdown on a cliff face, Janine drove her and Linda into the English channel, with Mick diving in to save them both.

While Mick succeeded in saving Janine and their unborn baby, he met a grisly end when he went back for Linda – not realising she had freed herself from the submerged car and was elsewhere on the beach side.

As a result, the women were left horrified as Mick never resurfaced.

Watch: FILMING Mick Carter's Final Scenes! | Behind The Scenes | EastEnders