If EastEnders fans are anything like star Michelle Collins, they will be shocked when they find out the true identity of Cindy Beale’s attacker.
The actress has revealed her reaction after she learned who really whacked her character around the head with a shovel and left her for dead on Christmas Day.
After weeks of suspicion, clues and finger-pointing, the soap’s 40th anniversary episodes see Cindy finally learn the truth as part of a week of unmissable and explosive drama kicking off on Monday.
Speaking ahead of the milestone, Michelle confessed the culprit came somewhat of a curveball when executive producer Chris Clenshaw told her.
‘I was [shocked], she admitted. ‘I actually thought I knew who it was, but I can see why they’ve done it.’
‘There are going to be some great scenes when she finds out who it is.’
At present, every member of the Beale and Knight families are in the frame – and as spoilers for next week’s episodes have already revealed, Cindy’s attacker should be wary, as she will arm herself with a gun ahead of their terrifying showdown…
Teasing Cindy’s state of mind in the lead-up to her discovery, Michelle said she is ‘feeling really isolated’.
‘At one point she’s thought it could have been any of them, but I really don’t think she knows,’ Michelle confessed.
‘The scary thing for Cindy is that she knows it’s somebody very close to her, and that’s very frightening that someone could hate her so much that they would want her dead. She really is completely and utterly paranoid and running scared.’
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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.
Michelle, who returned to EastEnders when Cindy was brought back from the dead in 2023 after 25 years, also spoke of what it means to be at the centre of the soap’s 40th anniversary.
She said: ‘I never thought I would ever come back as I didn’t think they could find a way to bring her back. I never believed I would be coming back 25 years later, but I’m really chuffed to be a part of the 40th.
‘I feel really honoured; all we want to do as an actor is to be challenged and have a great arc, and I’ve always had that on EastEnders.’
EastEnders’ 40th anniversary week begins on Monday 17 February on BBC One and iPlayer.
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