Linda Henry will stand trial for allegedly hurling racial abuse.
The ‘EastEnders’ actress – who plays Shirley Carter in the BBC1 soap – is accused of hurling abuse in a row outside restaurant Jamie’s Italian in Greenwich, South East London, in September but entered a not guilty to racially aggravated harassment plea via her lawyer at Bexley magistrates court yesterday (26.11.14) and has vowed to fight the claims "tooth and nail".
A source said: "Linda is horrified at the accusation and intends to fight it tooth and nail.
"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."
A manager for the Jamie Oliver eatery said only they were not part of the dispute.
The employee, Tarl Caple, told The Sun newspaper: "Our staff were not involved."
A trial has been set for February 11, and the former ‘Bad Girls’ star – who has 21-year-old daughter Ellie with husband Stavros Virilis – has vowed to clear her name.
Her spokesperson said: "Linda will be defending the allegation."
The BBC declined to comment, but the 51-year-old actress will continue her filming commitments as normal.
Linda Henry faces trial
