Grant Mitchell flirted with Linda Carter (Picture: BBC/Metro)

EastEnders fans were taken aback watching last night’s episode of the BBC One soap, as it was suggested Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) might be about to get herself a new love interest.

Last week, Linda was on hand to support friend Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who was planning on ending his life.

Linda, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) found Phil in The Arches with a gun. As Grant reacted in a way that made the situation worse, Linda tried to get through to Phil, who had convinced himself the world would be a better place if he wasn’t in it.

Phil did pull the trigger on the gun, but the weapon was empty. This allowed Grant to grab the gun from his brother, but he then ran out in a panic.

Linda knew that organising professional help for Phil would be the best thing to do next, so she requested Nigel made the call while she spoke to the struggling character.

Linda listened to Phil as he spoke about the thoughts he had inside his head. At first, when getting help was brought up, Phil was adamant he didn’t need it.

Ultimately though, he changed his mind once Nigel spoke about his diagnosis of early on-set dementia.

With Phil still in the mental health unit and Grant in Walford, he’s had no choice really but to try and process what his brother has been going through.

In the café during yesterday’s episode, he found Linda.

She spoke about being an alcoholic and hitting rock bottom, and how she knows all about recovering.

Phil was experiencing depression and signs of psychosis (Picture: BBC)
Grant felt as though he wouldn’t be welcome in Walford once Phil got home, and told Linda he thinks it would be best if he goes back to Portugal.

Clearly grateful for the way she helped his brother, Grant held Linda’s hand and called her amazing. He went on and said he’d happily make it up to her, should she ever want to visit Portugal.

She smiled, but was someone taken aback by the way Grant was making her feel. Linda hasn’t really contemplated a new relationship ever since Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) was lost at sea in 2022.

But is that all going to change?

Grant has struggled to know how to support his brother (Picture: BBC)
For some fans of the BBC One soap, they’re certainly here for it.

‘Omg Grant and LINDA?! Yes PLEASE #Eastenders’, one user of X wrote in a post.

‘Ooh Grant and Linda. That’s interesting! Can pursue this please’, another said.

While some audience members were here for their developing chemistry, others weren’t feeling it at all.

‘Oh my goodness, so got the ick over Grant and Linda’, this fan said.

Linda helped Phil with getting help (Picture: BBC)
Echoing the shock, another user of X wrote: ‘Linda and Grant?!?! Oh my days! Hahaha’.

Grant certainly keeps himself busy before he leaves Albert Square, as future scenes will see him spend time with ex Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).

New pictures reveal some fairly heated looks and body language between the pair.

Will Sharon succumb to temptation and cheat on Teddy (Roland Manookian) with Grant?