One fan-favourite is noticeably missing from set – sparking fears bosses have killed them off

EASTENDERS is set to air a shocking Christmas death that will leave the Carter family devastated.

With filming for the festive scenes on the BBC One soap now underway, exclusive snaps show the cast gathered for a funeral.

EastEnders are set to air a devastating Christmas death and funeral this yearCredit: ISO

The cast of the Carter family have been spotted filming the dramatic scenesCredit: ISO

An exclusive snap shows Maddy Hill reprise her role as Nancy as she slaps her grandmother Elaine during a heated exchangeCredit: ISO

 
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Johnny Carter takes the funeral badly and is removed from church before drinking his sorrowsCredit: ISO
A white coffin can be seen being carried into the church as mourners gathered behind.

The casket – which has a pink rose on top – is being held by Lee Carter as Danny Hatchard reprises his role, three years after he left Albert Square.

Walford policeman Callum Highway – and close friend of the Carter family – is also snapped in the proceedings.

Maddy Hill has also been spotted on location as she returns as Mick and Linda’s feisty daughter Nancy.

Linda Carter is nowhere to be seen on set, sparking fears Kellie Bright’s fan-favourite character is the deceased family member.

However, this could be a red herring from EastEnders producers, as they’ve got previous form on throwing viewers off the scent.

Keanu Taylor was last Christmas’ murder victim during the Six storyline as Linda plunged a carving fork into his back.

But Beeb bosses launched a ploy to divert attention from the death by having Danny Walters snapped at an airport and on set for another funeral scene – not his own.

It led fans to speculate he wasn’t the victim of the explosive storyline, preventing the highly anticipated episode from being spoiled.

So fans will be hoping that there’s every chance that Kellie is being kept out of sight and Linda will live to see another New Year.

However, other onset shots show Johnny Carter in a bad way and carried out of the church blindly drunk by his older brother Lee.

He later swigs a bottle of vodka on a gravestone while Linda’s mum Elaine and her granddaughter have a furious bust-up.

Nancy can be seen exchanging stern words with her before she ultimately smacks her across the face in dramatic scenes

 
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Linda Carter is noticeably absent from the set – sparking fears she’s the deceased Walford residentCredit: ISO

 
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The Carter family can be seen gathered around Johnny as they try support himCredit: ISO
In Christmas 2022, the Carter clan faced another tragedy as Mick’s body was seemingly washed out to sea after a showdown with Janine Butcher.

The publican – played by Danny Dyer – was presumed dead, which sent Linda into a spiral as her alcoholism deepened.

Now almost three years on from Mick’s demise, it remains to be seen if Linda has also met her fate.

EastEnders fans were first introduced to the Carter family in 2014 when Mick and Linda were revealed as the mystery buyers of the Queen Vic pub, having bought it from Phil Mitchell.

The Sun has contacted EastEnders on the behind-the-scenes shots.