 The character was created by series creator Tony Warren as part of the original cast, and she appears in the first episode along with family members including her mother, aging 'good-time girl' Elsie Tanner and her 'lovable rogue' brother Dennis.She is later joined by her Polish husband Ivan, and the young couple are central to early storylines as they cope with Linda's pregnancy affecting their marriage.Cunningham was written out after a year due to a strike at the actor's union Equity preventing new contracts being signed, and the actress chose not to return when the strike ended.