The EastEnders cast are currently gearing up for the 40th anniversary live episode – but one person who can put their feet up and enjoy it as a viewer is Michelle Collins.
The Cindy Beale actress has revealed she won’t be appearing in the special instalment, despite her character being central to the anniversary storylines.
As the BBC soap reaches the milestone next week, fans will see Cindy discover the identity of her Christmas attacker and confront them with a gun, before setting off a chain of events that sees the Queen Vic explode.
The week of episodes is set to take place over the course of one day, culminating in the live episode on Thursday night.
But speaking to Metro at the TV Choice Awards on Monday, Michelle said she was ‘relieved’ not to be appearing in the live.
She said: ‘I’m actually not going to be in the live. I am allowed to say that.
‘It’s quite complicated but I am in the lead-up to the live. I actually think it’s very well done.’
Of her relief, she continued: ‘I’ve done a lot of theatre but I don’t think it really matters. Live TV is very different to live theatre, so I think there’s going to be quite a few very terrified actors.’
At least one character confirmed to die in the explosion, which happens during Tuesday’s episode – so could it be Cindy that meets her fate?
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Ahead of EastEnders’ 40th Anniversary next month – which will see the reveal of Cindy Beale’s attacker – Metro narrows down the key suspects in the case.
- George Knight: Told his family that he was partaking in an illegal underground boxing match, but also later asked his brother Kojo to back up his alibi. Admitted to Gina that he wasn’t at the fight.
- Elaine Peacock: Enraged that Cindy still had eyes for her husband, she could’ve whacked her through jealousy.
- Gina Knight: Was seen exiting the barrel store – where the weapon was hidden – on Christmas night. She also had a fling with Freddie Slater on the evening.
- Anna Knight: Found the shovel in the barrel store and decided to hide it for fears of her family being implicated.
- Kojo Asare: Was previously manipulated by Cindy, and promised George that he would make it up to him for hiding the affair.
- Junior Knight: Planning to flee the area in the immediate aftermath, could he be furious that the affair hit a dead end and ruined his relationship with his father? He also stole the shovel from the Vic roof.
- Ian Beale: Could’ve been responsible through an angry and jealous rage after the betrayal. He’s also welcomed Cindy back into his home… possibly to cover his tracks?
- Kathy Cotton: Lets face it, she’s never been Cindy’s biggest fan. She’d also do anything for golden boy Ian.
- Lauren Branning: Admitted that she turned over Cindy’s body in the immediate aftermath, but her memory of the night is hazy after taking illegal painkillers.
- Peter Beale: Could’ve attacked his mum over the breakdown in his family, and putting his unborn baby at risk.
- Somebody else?: Big Mo is clearly a Metro reader, as she supported our theory that Bobby Beale could be behind the vicious altercation – despite living in the Cotswolds.
Meanwhile, Michelle also admitted she ‘wasn’t surprised’ when she found out the identity of Cindy’s attacker.
She said: ‘Was I surprised? No, I wasn’t surprised when I found out. I think Cindy will be very surprised when she finds out.
‘It’s great the way they’ve done it with the suspects being so close to Cindy, it’s really been exciting.’
EastEnders’ 40th anniversary begins on Monday at 7.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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