EastEnders fans have gone into meltdown as Shirley Carter has gone to prison.
She’s taken the rap for her son Mick over the whole selling alcohol outside of licensing hours debacle caused by Babe and has been sent down.
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The really bad news for selfless Shirl is that she’s now also being charged with perverting the course of justice as well.
So her six week sentence is now doubled and she’ll be inside for three months.
As Mick broke the news to The Queen Vic punters Billy and Honey commented that it wasn’t the first time Shirley’s been inside.
Mick shot the suggestion down and insisted it was, but fans found this hilarious as actress Linda Henry, who plays peroxide Shirl, was one of the main characters in prison drama Bad Girls.
Taking to Twitter @helenealton76 joked: “was Billy and Honey referring to Linda Henry being in prison in bad girls… #Retroreference.
And Claire Grundy said: “Yes Shirley has been inside before…remember bad girls”.
#eastenders was Billy and honey referring to Linda Henry being in prison in bad girls … #Retroreference
— Cinders (helen) (@helenealton76) March 9, 2017
Yes Shirley has been inside before…remember bad girls #eastenders
— Claire Grundy (@MissG1981) March 9, 2017
Linda played Yvonne Atkins in the drama from series one through to five.
She had a long-running feud with officer Jim Fenner that eventually saw her murdered in the most harrowing way, having been locked and left to die in a cramped hanging cell underground.
Let’s hope Shirl escapes the same fate!
Viewers were loving it as they made reference after reference to the crossover.
“Shirley Carter is gonna be Yvonne Atkins again #badgirls” said @gaystepdad.
And @Daniel_Bevis advised: “You just need to channel Yvonne Atkins – you’ll be fine Shirley!”
Shirley Carter is gonna be Yvonne Atkins again #badgirls #eastenders
— The Gay Stepdad (@gaystepdad) March 9, 2017
You just need to channel Yvonne Atkins – you'll be fine Shirley! #EastEnders
— Daniel_Bevis (@Daniel_Bevis) March 9, 2017
“Shirley going down is like Bad Girls all over again” said @tramikinss.
And @TfTiger added: “Seeing Shirley in the cells gave me bad girls flashbacks [sic]”.
“Getting pure Bad Girls Yvonne flashbacks now Shirl’s got herself banged up” agreed @kellie_adamiok.
https://twitter.com/tramikinss/status/840153402059370497
Seeing shirley in the cells gave me bad girls flashbacks #eastenders
— Tony Fortunato (@TfTiger) March 9, 2017
Getting pure Bad Girls Yvonne flashbacks now Shirl's got herself banged up #Eastenders
— Kellie Adamiok (@kellie_adamiok) March 9, 2017
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We reckon Shirley will be just fine inside.
But then again, three months is a very long time when you’re banged up…