EastEnders fans accuse soap of 'copycat' storyline after horror crash in Walford

EastEnders Janine Butcher drives Linda Carter home
EastEnders fans weren't happy with the soap copying another recent storyline. (Image credit: BBC)

EastEnders viewers criticised the soap’s episode last night (Monday, June 6) and accused them of copying the storyline from another beloved soap after Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) were involved in a shocking car crash.

Soap fans were quick to spot that EastEnders had copied Coronation Streets recent big storyline, which saw Toyah (Georgia Taylor) and her husband, Imran Habeeb (Charlie De Melo) also fall victim to a horror car crash.

During EastEnders last night, Linda wanted to spend some quality time with her daughter, Nancy (Maddy Hill) and took her for a trip to Watford. Meanwhile, baby Annie was in the backseat of the car.

However, things soon took a turn for the worst when the pair bickered and fell out.

Nancy stormed off and left Linda in the car, but as Linda attempted to drive after her daughter, the car wouldn’t start, leaving her stranded.

She soon noticed a bottle of vodka in the glove box and a drunken Linda called her husband, Mick (Danny Dyer) for help.

Nancy Carter leaves Linda Carter in the car

Nancy left Linda in the car after an argument. (Image credit: BBC)

After calling him many times to no avail, she phoned up The Queen Vic and Janine answered.

Janine was terrified that Linda had told Nancy about scamming her out of £50,000 after seeing a distraught Nancy return to the Vic. 

A slurring Linda demanded that Janine ask Mick to pick her up, while Janine was relieved to discover that Linda hadn’t told Nancy yet about her scheming plan.

Janine decided not to tell Mick about Linda’s ordeal and instead went after her herself.

Linda was less than happy to see Janine show up in a taxi and refused her help, but Janine was adamant that she had to drive them home because Linda was drunk.

Janine stops Linda from driving the car

Janine came to the rescue of Linda, much to her dismay. (Image credit: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

The taxi man managed to start up the car and Janine began driving them back to Walford, but a fiery argument erupted between the pair as they fought over Mick.

As Janine screamed at Linda, she lost control of the car and it spun out of control, hitting a tree, while a tree branch smashed through the windscreen.

Have they survived the crash? How will Mick react to the ordeal?

A similar incident recently took place in Coronation Street and has become a huge storyline, with Toyah being accused of driving into the building deliberately and killing Imran.

It’s a common occurrence for soaps to recycle each other’s storylines, but it looks like fans weren’t too happy with this one…

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EastEnders continues tonight at 7:30pm on BBC One.

Grace Morris
Staff Writer

Grace is a digital writer with WhatToWatch.com, where she writes series guides, recaps and features for must-watch shows and delivers all the latest soap news and reactions. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, which only made her love for creative writing, film and TV grow stronger.


You'll usually find her watching the drama unfold in the latest reality series or much-loved UK soaps (usually with chocolate by her side!). She's an expert in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and everything reality-related from Selling Sunset and Married At First Sight UK to 90 Day Fiancé UK. Plus Netflix megahit Virgin River!


Grace also likes to explore new places with her friends and family and, of course, watch and read about the latest films and TV series.