EastEnders' Kellie Bright sheds 'a lot of tears' over Danny Dyer's exit

Kellie Bright has shed "a lot of tears" over Danny Dyer's 'EastEnders' exit.

The 46-year-old star, who portrays Linda Carter in the BBC One soap, admits the actor's departure from the show - in which he has played Mick Carter since 2013 - feels like "the end" for Mick and Linda.

She said: "There were a lot of tears on and off screen from me, but I have spoke to him nearly every day - the reality is, he’s still my friend and still going to be in my life. It’s the end of a chapter.

"I'm not very good at saying goodbye at the best of times and everything about that job has been me and him it did feel like the end."

Kellie teased Danny's exit is part of the soap's festive storylines this year, when the love triangle between Mick, Linda and Mick's fiancée Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) leads to the Queen Vic landlord's exit.

She added to OK!: "I can tell you that it incorporates Danny’s exit from the show, I can tell you that it’s a combination of Mick, Janine and Linda triangle."

Earlier this year, Danny admitted the door was being left open for him to return to the show.

Speaking in January, he said: "Let me tell you something - Mick's exit is going to be a very, very powerful thing. I would love the door to be left open, and as far as I know it is.

"So who knows. When I go out there and I fail miserably I can come back with my tail between my legs and go, 'Will you take me back?'

"But I just want to send out some love to everyone at 'EastEnders'. I love you all very much.

"It'll be a sad year for me, but I'm also very excited about it. So we're going to attack this year, and we're going to make this year a f****** special one."