EastEnders fans left ‘cheering at the screens’ as Tracey the barmaid FINALLY speaks out in tense Linda Carter scene

EASTENDERS fans have been left 'cheering at the screens' as Tracey the barmaid FINALLY spoke out in tense Linda Carter scenes.

Tracey is the BBC soap's longest-serving character, having first appeared on the show in February 1985.

The character - played by Jane Slaughter - has had snippets of storylines over the years, and EastEnders fans always enjoy seeing the extra speak up.

So they were thrilled on Tuesday night when Tracey had her first speaking part in ages in a scene with Linda Carter.

Linda - played by Kellie Bright - had decided to hand herself into the police after killing Keanu Taylor in the pub on Christmas Day.

Linda wanted to free best friend Sharon Watts from her police cell, and admitted to son Johnny she was struggling to sleep or eat and was drinking herself into an early grave over what she had done.

After saying goodbye to her younger kids, Linda headed downstairs and spoke to Tracey.

She said: "Trace, if I'm not back before my mum...just tell her that I love her."

Concerned, Tracey asked: "Are you OK?"

They were then interrupted by Kathy Beale arriving to tell Linda and Johnny that they had a new plan, and were in the process of framing Dean Wicks for the murder.

While lots of fans were thrilled by the news evil Dean might be about to get his comeuppance, others were more interested in Tracey's moment.

Taking to X - formerly Twitter - one wrote: "Who else cheers when Tracy, Shrimpy or Winston get a speaking line?"

Another added: "Tracy getting lines on the show is life."

A third tweeted: "Tracy with a couple of words in this episode."

Meanwhile a fourth shared: "Tracy's once in a blue moon speaking part."

EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.