Danny Dyer, the beloved actor who portrayed Mick Carter on EastEnders, has opened up about the real reason behind his decision to leave the iconic role after nine years on the BBC soap.
Known for his portrayal of the pub owner, Dyer was a fan-favorite character from his arrival in 2013 until his dramatic exit in the 2022 Christmas special.
His departure was marked by a gripping storyline that saw Mick caught in a life-or-death situation, leaving fans devastated when his fate was sealed.
Mick Carter’s Final Storyline
Mick Carter’s final months in Albert Square were filled with emotional turmoil.
In the lead-up to his departure, Mick was swept up in a toxic relationship with Janine Butcher, who was pregnant with his child.
Their marriage, fraught with manipulation and deception, caused a rift between Mick and his long-time love, Linda Carter, who had been his partner through thick and thin. Over time, Mick learned the shocking truth about Janine’s manipulative nature, including her attempts to frame Linda for drink-driving.
The dramatic culmination of Mick’s story occurred on Christmas Day 2022, when Mick, Linda, and Janine found themselves in a tense standoff near Dover. In a harrowing sequence of events, Mick heroically saved both Linda and Janine from drowning, but tragically, he was swept back into the sea while searching for Linda. For the next two years, Mick’s loved ones were left in the dark, believing he had died, while Janine faced a prison sentence for her crimes, including giving birth to Mick’s child behind bars.
The Real Reason Behind Danny Dyer’s Exit
In a recent appearance on Rob Beckett’s Smart TV podcast, Danny Dyer finally revealed the truth about why he made the difficult decision to leave EastEnders. According to Dyer, his exit was heavily influenced by the storyline pairing Mick with the notorious Janine Butcher, a character with a dark past and a history of manipulating men for her own benefit. With Janine’s multiple marriages and the fact that she had previously killed two of her husbands, Dyer admitted that this plotline was the breaking point for him.
“Mick’s got a kid with Janine, how mad’s that? That’s why I left. They f****** put me with Janine. I thought, ‘I’ve [got to] f*** off’,” Dyer candidly confessed. His reaction to this storyline spoke volumes about his feelings towards Mick’s romantic entanglement with Janine, which many fans found hard to accept given Mick’s long history with Linda.
The Fans’ Reaction to Mick and Janine’s Relationship
Dyer’s sentiments were echoed by many EastEnders fans who took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with the storyline. Fans were particularly vocal about how the pairing of Mick and Janine seemed out of character for the pub landlord, who had always shared a deep bond with Linda. One fan, @KellieBrightLY, tweeted, “Danny is so real for this. Mick and Janine as well as Max and Linda should’ve never happened. Mick and Linda were soulmates, they would’ve never cheated on each other – they’ve been inseparable since they were 12!” Other viewers also voiced their frustrations, with @tvthings_2 adding, “EastEnders entered its worst era when they started to put Mick and Whitney together, trying to ruin Linda and Mick.”
Despite Mick’s ultimate reconciliation with Linda, many fans still felt that his story arc had taken an unexpected and disappointing turn with the Janine storyline. Mick and Linda had been fan favorites for years, and their eventual separation seemed like a betrayal of their long-standing bond.
Danny Dyer’s Desire for Change
While Dyer’s dissatisfaction with the Janine plotline was a major factor in his exit, he also cited his desire for change as another reason for leaving the role. The actor explained that, while the stability of working on a long-running show like EastEnders is appealing, it can also be restrictive. Dyer admitted that as an actor, the uncertainty of when his next job would come along played a part in his decision to step away from the role. “You never quite know when the next paycheck is coming or when your next job. You could have a really good run, and then it just stops for seven months,” Dyer explained. “It takes that away but, of course, it’s like you’re crossed off every cast in this. That’s the other thing.”
Ultimately, Dyer felt that it was the right time to pursue new opportunities and challenges. While Mick Carter will forever hold a special place in his heart, Dyer expressed excitement about what the future holds for him beyond EastEnders.
Looking Forward to Danny Dyer’s Future
Since his departure from EastEnders, Danny Dyer has kept busy with other projects, including his new film Marching Powder. Fans of the actor can look forward to seeing him in a new light as he continues to take on diverse roles in the entertainment industry. However, for many, Mick Carter will remain one of Dyer’s most iconic characters, and his exit from Walford marked the end of an era for the BBC soap.
While Mick’s storyline may have ended in tragedy, Danny Dyer’s honesty about his reasons for leaving the show sheds light on the challenges that come with long-running TV roles. As Dyer moves forward in his career, fans will no doubt continue to remember his time as Mick Carter fondly, while eagerly anticipating what’s next for the actor.
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