Linda Jackson was a married woman whom Terry Duckworth embarked on an affair with in 1987.
While delivering leaflets for Alf Roberts' election campaign, Terry was surprised to find his old army mate Pete Jackson living on Edward Street. Terry learned that Pete and his wife Linda were depressed at being unemployed and attempted to encourage them. Linda told Pete that she was sick of his lax attitude when it came to looking for work, and she began to resent him spending time drinking with Terry. Linda made it clear to Terry that she didn't like him and when he invited a keen Pete to join his building firm she rejected the offer on his behalf.
Terry reached out to Linda, telling her that she had got him all wrong and that all he wanted to do was help Pete out, and invited the couple to Blackpool. Despite the Jacksons having a great time, Linda was furious when Terry brought Pete home drunk the next day when he was supposed to have been helping Terry and Curly Watts selling door to door. Terry confided in Linda about how Andrea Clayton had rejected him and taken his son away and Linda was touched by his story. After this Linda was confused about her feelings towards Terry but when he made a pass at her, after Pete had left her to go clubbing with Curly, she accused him of having a one-track mind. Terry apologised and left but was later puzzled to realise that Linda hadn't told Pete.
Terry paid another visit to Linda and told her that he was aware she hadn't told Pete as she felt the same way about him. She told him that she was sick of being fancied by Pete's army mates, nevertheless she still ended up in bed with Terry but later tried to fight her feelings due to her love for Pete. However, Terry managed to wear down Linda's defences and they shared another kiss only to be walked in on by Curly. Terry informed Curly that the affair was over so it wasn't worth him worrying about, but he and Linda later confessed that they couldn't keep away from each other.
Pete couldn't understand why Linda was being so moody and attempted to cheer her up causing Linda to break down in tears at his kindness. Later that day he caught Linda and Terry together on the sofa, he called Terry a bastard and Linda told Terry to leave. Pete broke down to Linda and promised to change his lifestyle begging her not to leave him. She too broke down agreeing to stay with him, which Pete gladly relayed to Terry. When Terry phoned Linda to hear from her himself he was shattered to learn that she never wanted to see him again. However, when Terry visited the Jacksons to inform them that he was leaving and wanted Linda to come with him, Linda realised that she couldn't stay with Pete because she felt sorry for him and decided to leave with Terry despite Pete's pleas.
List of appearances[]
1987