EastEnders fans in shock at Danny Dyer’s explosive exit as Mick Carter – with a huge twist

EASTENDERS fans are in shock after Danny Dyer’s explosive exit from Albert Square saw him disappear.

The actor - who played Mick Carter in the BBC soap - bowed out in tonight’s episode with a shock twist leaving his exit a mystery.

With Mick having married Janine Butcher, the family settled down for a first Christmas together.

But after returning to the Square for Christmas, Jada struggled with the guilt of what she’d done and with Sharon’s help went to expose Janine over lunch.

Mick refused to believe them and kicked them out.

Shirley then lost it and confronted Scarlett and Janine over lunch.

With Janine fighting back, Scarlett ran out and Linda followed and spoke to the teenager, convincing her to open up and tell the truth.

And it worked - with Scarlett exposing her mum’s lies.

“She’s lying, she was driving your car,” she said.

“She came to pick you up. Linda, you called the Vic, you talked to mum.”

Janine floundered, trying to explain away what she’d done before being exposed as framing Linda for drink driving.

“You could have killed me, killed Annie, you were going to let me go to prison,” screamed Linda as she tried to throttle Janine.

Janine then claimed Scarlett was mentally ill in an attempt to lie away her out of this situation - but Mick had heard enough and shut her down.

He told Linda and Shirley to get out - and took them downstairs where he confessed his love for Linda - and her him.

“Every single day I tried to convince myself I loved Janine but in my gut I just knew it wasn’t true,” he said.

“I love you. I’ve loved you my entire life. I’ve never stopped.”

As Mick and Linda reunited in the now open pub, Janine abandoned her daughter and fled, hoping to escape before the police arrived.

They followed Janine all the way to Dover - where they caught up with her and tried to stop her - but she fought back and knocked Mick down.

Jumping in her car, she went to drive off but Linda threw herself in and tried to stop Janine from driving off.

But as the pair fought, Janine drove the car off a cliff and crashed into the sea.

Mick raced after them and then threw himself over it after them diving down to rescue the women.

Linda told Mick to save Janine and the baby, and once he dragged her onto the beach, he went back under for Linda.

However in a heartbreaking twist, Linda freed herself and had clambered her way out while Mick dived back down, never to be seen again.

The episode marked Mick actor Danny Dyer’s last appearance in the soap and viewers are devastated.

One wrote: "Literally gutted that Danny Dyer has left EastEnders."

A second said: "Things will never be the same in Albert Square now Danny Dyer has left."

Another added: "Can't believe Danny Dyer has left."

A fourth penned: "Danny Dyer will be greatly missed. He's an incredible actor."