EastEnders Star Linda Henry 'Shirley' to Fight Racial Abuse Charge after Restaurant Row

EastEnders star Linda Henry is preparing to stand trial for alleged aggravated racial harassment, it has emerged.

According to The Sun, the 51-year-old actress, who is best known for playing barmaid Shirley Carter on the hit BBC soap, is accused of hurling racial abuse during a row outside one of TV chef Jamie Oliver's restaurants.

Henry was charged under her married name of Virilis in connection to the incident in Greenwich, south-east London, on 14 September. The trial is due to begin on 11 February.

Although details of her alleged victim have yet to be revealed, the Walford favourite has entered a not guilty plea and vowed to defend the allegations against her.

"Linda is horrified at the accusation and intends to fight it tooth and nail," a source told the newspaper.

"Those close to her know the truth and the type of person she is.

"She has never been in trouble before, has never been accused of this type of thing before and is determined to prove she is innocent of these deeply offensive claims."

Show bosses are yet to comment on whether Henry will be suspended from the show.

Her impending court case is the latest scandal to hit the soap in this year.

In May, Khali Best, known to millions as Walford mechanic Dexter Hartman, was suspended from EastEnders for three months for his behaviour backstage and outside of work.

Ricky Norwood, who plays Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb, also received a suspension April after footage emerged online of him smoking drugs and engaging in a 'solo sex act'.