EastEnders star Shane Richie has said that love could be in the air on Albert Square for his character Alfie Moon as he looks to be getting closer to the Queen Vic's landlady Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).
There's been a bit of chemistry between the characters and the actor said the fan reaction to their spark could lead to love behind the bar.
The characters have been getting closer ever since Linda hired Alfie to work behind the bar at the Queen Vic.
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He helped her get the place back on its feet after her husband Mick (Danny Dyer) disappeared and it seems like there's something brewing between the pair.
Their bonds of friendship were tested when Queen Vic co-owner and Linda's mum Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) tried to get rid of him.
Speaking to The Sun, Richie said the cast of EastEnders had picked up on the fan response to Alfie and Linda getting closer together, but said they were trying to show that people could 'just be friends'.
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He said: "The thing about Alfie and Linda took me and Kellie Bright by surprise was that the general public picked up their relationship.
"We were finding it very funny because Alfie’s getting over Kat of course, and Linda’s getting over Mick and so we played around with it.
"I was thinking ‘has Alfie got feelings for her?’ And then we decided that it would be nice to show that two people can just be friends."
Don't give up hopes of a little more than friendship just yet, as Richie said there 'may be something down the line' which ends up being a little bit more romantic.
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The actor said he was 'really enjoying' playing Alfie as single as the character's ex Kat (Jessie Wallace) is supposed to be tying the knot with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) later on.
Meanwhile, Linda's husband Mick is missing, presumed dead after being lost at sea, which in soapland means he could pretty much walk back through the doors of the Queen Vic at any point.
Fans really have picked up on the 'chemistry' between the characters, with EastEnders viewers saying that Alfie and Linda 'deserve love and happiness together' and that a romance could work even though they were great as friends.
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Some viewers are loving their friendship and others are really wishing it would turn into something more, but you'll just have to wait and see.
Topics: Eastenders, TV And Film, Celebrity
Joe Harker