The penny will drop for Mick on Christmas day about the Linda rape its so obvious with how he doesnt have a clue and still cant work out whats wrong with her all this build up is leading to the Christmas day episode where the penny will drop and he discovers the truth of what she went through

I think so too. Or they'll be having a big, family Christmas meal in the Vic and Linda will have a meltdown and blurt out that Dean raped her. Pretty predictable, but might make for good drama.

I think thats what could happen Linda just having a breakdown on Christmas day and blurts it out and the penny drops for Mick with how shes acted all this time

I think it might come out just before Christmas, with the Shirley/Mick reveal actually taking centre stage. Kind of like how the Derek/Kat reveal happened a few days before Christmas, then Derek's demise taking place on the big day.

I just don't feel like they'd make a rape reveal the big Christmas day storyline. Obviously it'd still play a part with the Shirley thing, but I don't think it'll be the main Christmas plot, even for Eastenders.

That's a good point and I hope you're right. Rape reveal on Christmas Day would surely be too depressing even for Eastenders.

yes it all happens on christmas day, danny dyer has hinted at this.

Yeah it's pretty much a toss up between 'The Rape' and the 'You Ain't My Muvva: The Sequel'. I'm betting on Shirley spilling the beans first and Linda will realise she's had two brothers and finally tells Mick.

It's going to take him that long? I think most husbands would twig when their wife pushes their hand away in terror when coming on to her and starts to cry like Linda did tonight. Mick's really thick!

Yeah, that'll probably be true. But I can see Linda revealing the truth Christmas Eve and then when Mick is beating Dean up Shirley blurting out 'He's your brother!' to get Mick off of Dean. Then Christmas Day will be Shirley/Mick/Dean/Linda.

thats wwhat I thought too. maybe it will start on the christmas day episode and play out on the next.

I think this is pretty much it - hopefully DTC will throw another spanner in the works; but saying that we haven Babe's nasty side to be revealed, the fact that Mick and Linda never actually married and of course Sylvie. That's without 'Who Killed Lucy' or any other story!

It's looking quite packed at the Carters this Christmas!

Maybe he is beginning to think something like that deep down but has to wait for her to open up and tell him.

What's he meant to do just ask her outright? Linda's obviously so scared of the damage it's going to do to her family that she's too afraid to say anything - maybe he will be the same?

Yeah. I don't agree with both of these huge secrets hanging over the same families heads, but if they both must be revealed in the same sort of time frame, they need to be in quick succession, in my opinion. If there's any more than an episode or two in between the reveals, the one which falls in the latter position will just feel like an 'add on' to add to the families woes.

And to people saying Mick is stupid, would you immediately jump from your wife acting strangely to her having been raped by your nephew (brother)?

The only reason Shirley would spill I think is after a serious beating and Deans almost dead. If Mick was about too beat him up or anything she could say "don't hurt my son" or that she will sort it.

I almost think the parentage has to come out before the rape.

It could work both ways, Shirley may have to reveal the brother bond to save Dean from Mick after the rape reveal, or Linda may have to reveal the rape if Mick is trying to build a bond with Dean after the parentage reveal.

Unless Shirley's mum comes into it soon and it comes out that way.

I would much prefer it to come from Shirley off her own back or spontaneously, I don't want a 'you tell Mick, or I will' from Sylvie

Well, whilst we're waiting, we can improve on your punctuation a little .

yes then Shirley disown dean and reveal she is mother wow in my head lol

Does it have to be the whole thing comes out at Christmas? Perhaps Linda may finally tell Mick she was raped or he may work it out but she doesn't tell him who did it and then the fact that it was Dean could be what comes out at Christmas along with the other big reveal.

I hope Linda puts her "game face" on until then, no offence while I do think the actress is doing a fantastic job I can't watch her like this everynight - just put on some lippy and smile at the punters, we'll know she doesn't mean it but I just can't watch her misery anymore.

I think Linda will tell Elaine. Sylvie hears them talk about it but also hears Elaine reveal the person she had her affair with was Stan. Sylvie drops the Linda/Dean bombshell at xmas dinner to get revenge. Mick launches for Dean. Shirl shouts get off your brother..Stan gets rushed to hospital...then the fallout follows

I have a feeling someone will find out before mick does but Linda will make them promise not to tell him about it but then on Christmas Day or new year he will find out, either right before or after the Shirley reveal

I like it. That would be a great way for it all to go down.

I do think Dean's possible rape in prison years ago will be part of this story. In my opinion, he's been headed for a mental breakdown for quite awhile that was finally tipped off by Shirley running off.

Of course I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of Linda wandering around with a horrified look on her face in the coming weeks.

Linda didn't "have" Dean, she was raped by him.