EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders star Kellie Bright has revealed how she cried for months in the lead-up to Danny Dyer's exit.
Danny is bowing out of his role as Mick, but Kellie – who plays his on-screen ex-wife Linda – has already confirmed that she'll be staying on the show.
Speaking at a recent press event, Kellie explained how much she struggled when it came to saying goodbye to Danny on set, after nine years of working so closely together.
Related: EastEnders confirms Christmas cameo for Rag'n'Bone Man
"It's a life shared, that's the thing," she said to Digital Spy and other media. "Nine years playing husband and wife is almost like nine years being husband and wife on a show like EastEnders because you do see this person daily and they go through all your real life events with you.
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"Danny was at my wedding, he's gone through IVF with me. There's stuff that we've shared, it makes saying goodbye very hard. I didn't do very well. I cried, basically, from July to November. In the end I was sort of relieved – I've got no tears left! He's got to go!
"I did a little speech as well [at his leaving party]. We were both crying. I think that's what sort of sent us over the edge was watching our history back. We looked so young!"
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Kellie also reflected on how she got the part as Linda, saying: "I had a read through with another actor and I thought: 'This is never going to work'.
"I didn't hear anything for a while but it hadn't gone away and I was told I would probably have to go back in and read with someone else. Then I got a phone call saying: 'You don't have to come back in and read, we're offering you the job and we're offering it to someone else,' but they wouldn't tell me who.
"It wasn't until we went for a secret photo shoot on a Sunday, that's the first time we met. That's the first time we knew of each other. We'd never come across each other in our careers or anything. The first time we ever, ever put Mick and Linda on was when we filmed our first scene. That was it. There was no screen test, there was no: 'Is it going to work with the two of them?'"
Check out Digital Spy's full coverage from EastEnders' Christmas press event:
EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw shares new 2023 teasers
EastEnders star Danny Dyer reveals alternative ending to Mick's exit
EastEnders star Danny Dyer had doubts about Mick exit on final day
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage.
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