EastEnders' Linda Carter has been battling cancer.
Kellie Bright as Linda Carter
The blonde matriarch - portrayed by Kellie Bright - has spent the past few months away from Walford looking after her poorly mother Elaine Peacock (Maria Friedman) while her husband Mick (Danny Dyer) has been trying to keep the family business afloat.
Fans were convinced that Linda - who returned to Albert Square full-time in August - had been having an affair behind her spouse's back as recent scenes saw her end their marriage, but it has now been revealed that she was hiding a big secret from her loved one - albeit not one viewers were expecting - she's been diagnosed with cancer.
In a shock storyline, Linda told Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen, that she had remained away from Walford for so long because she had been fighting the disease.
She explained when he questioned whether she had been unfaithful: "There isn't anyone else. I wasn't caring for my mum, I mean I was at first, she got better and..."
She then added: "I couldn't come back. I've had cancer."
More details about Linda's diagnosis are yet to come to light and it's not known whether she will ever pluck up the courage to tell her husband about her health scare.
But it's not just the Carters in the midst of drama at the moment, as fans were left gripped to the edge of their seats last night (05.09.17) when Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell) set fire to the restaurant with his step-mother Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) inside.
Aaron said recently: "He's willing to go as far as it takes, whatever that might be and whoever it may hurt. We're really going to see this tug of war - Steven's always been this character that could go either way.
"He could go full evil or he could redeem himself and become the good guy. I think we're really going to see that battle across this week especially."
Tagged in Danny Dyer Scott Maslen Laurie Brett