Mick Carter
Mick Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders played by Danny Dyer, making his first appearance in the show in the episode originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2013. Dyer's casting was announced on 1 October 2013 with that of his on-screen partner, Linda Carter. He is the son of established character Shirley Carter and is a member of the Carter family. Mick immediately becomes the new landlord of The Queen Victoria public house, bringing Linda, their son Johnny Carter and pet bulldog Lady Di with him. They are later joined by daughter Nancy Carter, son Lee Carter and other members of the extended family. In January 2022, it was announced that Dyer had quit the show after nine years in the role of Mick, and his final scenes aired on 25 December 2022.
The character was created by Dominic Treadwell-Collins, who came up with the idea of the Carter family before he became the executive producer of EastEnders. The character was influenced by Treadwell-Collins' own father. Dyer was asked to play Mick and he accepted because the role was not typical of other roles he has played, and he was happy that Mick's partner would be played by Bright. Mick is described as a family man who is patriotic and kind, and it was said that he has a good partnership with Linda but they fight "like teenagers". Dyer has based the character of Mick on former Queen Vic landlord, Frank Butcher.
Mick's storylines have included overcoming his fear of water, taking the blame for soliciting after being arrested, the discovery that Shirley is not his sister but actually his mother, coping with Linda's rape by his brother Dean Wicks, the death of his grandfather Stan Carter from terminal cancer, becoming a father to Ollie Carter, blaming Nancy when Ollie is seriously injured during a fight between her and Lee, discovering that Lee instigated a robbery at The Queen Vic, ongoing financial issues and developing feelings for his daughter-in-law, Whitney Carter. Dyer took a short break from the show in early 2017. Mick has also feuded with former friend Stuart Highway and was framed by Stuart for his attempted murder. Since then, he has supported his wife through her alcoholism, leaving the Queen Vic and finding out he has a daughter after he was sexually abused as a child by Katy Lewis. In 2022, Mick's marriage to Linda finally ended after she sent him divorce papers, at the instigation of Janine Butcher, with whom Mick develops a relationship. He then married Janine in December 2022, but reunites with Linda on Christmas Day after Janine's lies are exposed. Their happiness, however, is short lived when Mick is lost at sea after attempting to rescue Linda during a car accident.
Dyer's casting received a mixed response, with Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy feeling positive about the new character but calling it a risk, as Dyer is so well known, Vicky Prior from the Metro saying Dyer could be "the saviour of the soap". Several critics, as well as Dyer himself, hoped that he would help increase the show's ratings, but the casting was criticised by domestic violence charities because of previous comments Dyer was alleged to have made. Dyer has won several awards for the role, including the TV Choice Award for Best Soap Actor in 2014 and the National Television Award for Outstanding Serial Drama Performance in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
Development
Casting and introduction
On 1 October 2013, it was announced that Danny Dyer had been cast in the role of Mick Carter, the younger brother of established character Shirley Carter, who joined EastEnders in 2006, and Tina Carter, whose casting was announced 12 days earlier. Dyer was asked to be in EastEnders, and said that production staff "told me how brilliant I was" and "I felt really honoured", but he said he "thought long and hard" about accepting the role, doing so because it was "at the right time in my career." He also said he accepted the role because it was not "too obvious" and would be a double act with Mick's wife Linda Carter, saying, "it was a big deciding factor when they that my screen wife Linda was going to be played by Kellie Bright." He began filming later in October, along with Bright. The character was to be the new landlord of the "iconic" Queen Victoria public house, appearing from Christmas Day, 25 December 2013. The Carters are the first new family to join the series and immediately take over the pub, and it was said that the family would become "a new EastEnders dynasty."Dominic Treadwell-Collins was appointed executive producer of EastEnders in August 2013, but in December 2013, he said that Mick and Linda "were in my head about a year and a half ago", adding that they are influenced by his own parents. For Mick's announcement, Treadwell-Collins said: "I'm so excited to have actors of Danny and Kellie's calibre joining what is an already strong and talented company of actors." Dyer said at the time of the announcement, "I am so excited about starting a new chapter in my career and cannot wait to become part of the East End family." Later in the same month, Dyer said that becoming the new pub landlord was "like the perfect marriage. To take over The Queen Vic on Christmas Day, to be on primetime TV on the BBC's flagship show... I want to show people what I can do." Dyer said that he was not nervous joining EastEnders, but that he was excited and "can't wait for everyone to see me in the Vic". The programme had suffered falling ratings in 2013, and Dyer told Inside Soap that he wanted to "help turn EastEnders around". When asked by Heat if he would be "the saviour" of EastEnders, he said that he would, and said, "a lot of people were excited about me going to EastEnders there's a lot of people who want to see me fail", adding that it was a risk that "could work or couldn't work". Controller of BBC One, Charlotte Moore, said in December 2013 that Dyer "is an extraordinary presence on the set of EastEnders—it's very exciting. He's just a big, big character and bringing him into the Vic is going to change a lot of the dynamics of EastEnders". Shane Richie, who plays previous landlord Alfie Moon, said Mick and the rest of the Carters would "change the dynamics of the Queen Vic", confirming that their arrival was "the big Christmas storyline".
Other members of the EastEnders cast, including Rita Simons, Jake Wood, Jacqueline Jossa and Adam Woodyatt, welcomed Dyer to the cast via social networking website Twitter. Jamie Lomas, who plays Jake Stone, said he was "absolutely made up" that Dyer was joining the show, while Samantha Womack said she "can't wait to see pulling pints at the Vic" Womack later said Dyer's casting was a "bold move" by Treadwell-Collins, opining that this was "exactly what the show needs", adding "we need proper East End characters, we need larger than life personalities. a fantastic actor but he's also incredibly charismatic." Shona McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean, said she "can't wait to work with Danny Dyer. I have an inkling that Whitney will have some scenes with the Carters. I've been chatting with Danny on Twitter, and he's such a legend." Dyer took to Twitter to thank people for their support, stating that "my dreams have come true".
Dyer, who is from East London where EastEnders is set, had previously been offered a role in the soap in 2009, but turned it down, fearing the level of publicity it would bring. He also said he turned down a 10-episode role in EastEnders because it was an "obvious gangster bully" who would be "blown up by Phil Mitchell". Dyer also revealed that he was approached to play Carl White, but turned it down. He said, "if I'd gone down that route, then I wouldn't be playing the role I am now." Richie, experienced at playing a landlord in the show, mentored Dyer and helped him on the pub set because he "couldn't even open the f***ing till". He was also trained in how to use a beer engine. After Dyer had been filming for a month, he stated that he was "bringing something to soap land that's never been seen before" and said that taking over The Queen Victoria was "a big responsibility" that he was ready for, adding "I don't want to let them down". He said that his character's entrance to the show was "flawless, but it's not going to be what you expect", and felt that he would have the same impact as original landlord Den Watts. He also thought that his role would be controversial, because of the baggage that comes with him as an actor. Inside Soap said that the success of Mick, the Carter family and the pub all rest on Dyer's shoulders, of which Dyer said put pressure on him but he added that "there should be pressure coming into a show like this. I didn't want to come in as some peripheral character". He hoped that people would find Mick believable and loveable.
Three "sting" trailers for Christmas in EastEnders were released on 5 December 2013, one showing Dyer's face and the caption "It's all about to change". Two pictures from Dyer's first episode were also released on 5 December, one showing Mick and members of his family outside The Queen Victoria, and the other showing Mick holding open the pub's doors. Further pictures from Dyer's first episodes and more promotional shots were released on 7 December. A 45-second trailer for the Christmas 2013 storylines was released on 10 December, showing Dyer in his role.
Characterisation and appearance
Mick was described by the BBC as a patriotic family man, who is a "big softie" after spending most of his life around women. He was called a "bloke's bloke" and "kind hearted". Dyer said that Mick is in touch with his feminine side, and is "the alpha male of the show without being a bully", and said it was "not in an obvious way". He felt it was important that Mick was a family man, and called him a "grafter". He called him a "normal guy" who is protective of his family. When he appeared on ITV panel show Celebrity Juice, he described Mick as "a lovely fella" who is "not a villain." He said that Mick would be a "completely different landlord" to Alfie, and said the character has "a bit of Frank Butcher| Butcher about ". All About Soap stated that he was "no bad boy". Shane Richie said that Mick is "not the hardman, but there is an element of that just underneath". Inside Soap said that Mick's battles are only verbal. They reported that Mick is enthusiastic about running his pub and has a "proper, old-school cockney attitude". Dyer said that he wanted viewers to be confused by Mick's use of cockney rhyming slang and wanted to get as much "cockney-ness" into the role as he could. He said that his own use of slang was sometimes "too out there" for the show but he had tried to stop it being taken out.With the publication of the first photo of the entire Carter family together, Heat Olivia Cooke said she loves "the excellent way that Danny's character has been styled", adding that he looks "hot". Kirsty McCormack from the Daily Express said Dyer "looks like the ultimate East End hard man". Claire Hodgson from the Daily Mirror said Dyer was "making a poor attempt at looking harder than his dog", while The List said that in the photo, Dyer looks "smug and hard-nosed". Hello thought Mick and the rest of his family look like "they're going to cause a stir". Mick wears a Pea coat and ASOS.com said he "looks like he might be the most stylish landlord of the Vic ever."