“However there occasions where the family court is asked to intervene, irrespective of whether parents are together, are separating or are already living separate, and this commonly at the instigations of local authority/social services or a non-resident parent.
“In the case of Mick and Linda, it seems unlikely that social services would take steps to intervene, though, if they did, consideration would have to be given to who would look after the child and in this regard Linda, Mick, Shirley or foster care would have to be considered.
“Removing a child from the immediate family tends to be the last resort though there is a balancing exercise undertaken in respect of the risk of harm to the child,” she continued.
Will Mick and Linda work through their difficulties, or will the pair split-up amid their own personal struggles?
EastEnders continues tonight at 8pm on BBC One.