It’s been a long nine weeks of accusations and finger-pointing, but EastEnders is finally set to reveal who attacked Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).
The Walford icon was whacked over the head with a shovel and left for dead in the snow Christmas Day after the truth about her affair with former stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) was exposed to their families.
As part of the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary week, fans will see a gun-wielding Cindy come face-to-face with the culprit, as their dangerous showdown then collides with events happening elsewhere on the Square, causing an explosion to rip through the Queen Vic.
But who will be unmasked as the Walford Whacker? Here’s a closer look at all the suspects…
George Knight
Cindy’s ex-husband George (Colin Salmon) told his family that he was partaking in an illegal underground boxing match at the time of her attack after they found his bloodied shirt. But he was also seen asking his brother Kojo to back up a false alibi.
He later admitted to daughter Gina that he wasn’t at the fight after all, but viewers were not let in on what his story actually is…
Elaine Peacock
Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) has never been Cindy’s biggest fan, but she was enraged by Cindy’s revelation she still had eyes for husband George upon the reveal of her affair with Junior.
After she threw George out of the Vic when he referred to Cindy as ‘his wife’, could Elaine have whacked her rival through jealousy?
Ian Beale
Ian (Adam Woodyatt) likely has the biggest motive to have attacked Cindy given his fiancée’s latest betrayal, and we saw how he had a jealous rage as he smashed up his home – could this anger have spilled out onto the Square where he saw Cindy?
He later welcomed Cindy back into his home, but clearly had an ulterior motive for doing so.
Going into anniversary week, Ian is Cindy’s number one suspect, which could potentially rule him out given actress Michelle Collins said Cindy will be ‘shocked’ by the culprit.
Gina Knight
Gina (Francesca Henry) was seen exiting the barrel store – where the weapon was hidden – on Christmas night. She later admitted to scaring her mum by throwing a brick through a window with an ominous message for her to cover for her dad’s lies about his whereabouts.
However, she also had a fling with Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) that same evening, seemingly giving her an alibi.
Anna Knight
Anna (Molly Rainford) found the shovel used to attack Cindy in the barrel store and decided to hide it for fears of her family being implicated. But could this be a cover story?
Lauren Branning
Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) was the one who exposed Cindy and Junior’s affair to their families by gifting the recording during Secret Santa. But her plan to bring Cindy down backfired when partner Peter rejected her.
She later admitted she remembers turning over Cindy’s body shortly after her attack, but her memory of the night is hazy after taking a dose of painkillers.
Junior Knight
Junior (Micah Balfour) was planning to flee Walford in the immediate aftermath, and was seen acting out in anger outside his apartment building by a neighbour. Was he furious that the affair hit a dead end and ruined his relationship with his father?
Junior also stole the shovel from the Vic roof. After Cindy handed it into the police, they found no prints or traces of the attacker – did Junior clean the weapon?
Kathy Cotton
Kathy’s (Gillian Taylforth) hatred for Cindy goes back over three decades, and we know that she would do anything golden boy Ian.
But having previously been a member of The Six, could Kathy really be responsible for a second crime in as many years?
Peter Beale
Peter (Thomas Law) could have attacked his mum over the breakdown in his family, and for putting his unborn baby at risk by supplying Lauren with illegal painkillers.
He is also one of the few characters who has had sympathy for Cindy following her attack – could this actually be guilt?
Kojo Asare
Kojo (Dayo Koleosho) was previously manipulated by Cindy and promised George that he would make it up to him for hiding her affair with Junior from him.
Somebody else?
Big Mo (Laila Morse) is clearly a Metro reader, as she supported our theory that Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell) could be behind the vicious altercation, despite living in the Cotswolds.
EastEnders 40th anniversary – Everything we know so far
Here’s what EastEnders fans can expect as the soap celebrates its 40th anniversary on 19 February 2025:
A live episode
Having previously gone live for the 25th and 30th anniversaries in 2010 and 2015, the soap will be beaming live to the nation once again during the 40th week.
This instalment will air one day after the big 4-0, on Thursday February 20.
The episode will also mark a huge EastEnders first as bosses are giving the audience the power to vote on the outcome of one storyline, with the actors having to react to the result live on air – speaking of which…
Denise Fox decides… sort of.
With Denise Fox (Diane Parish) having found herself in a love triangle with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), fans will decide whether she reunites with her estranged husband Jack or picks her secret lover.
We also know that another ‘history making’ decision will be left to audiences to decide, with details yet to be announced.
Grant Mitchell returns
Ross Kemp will be reprising his role as the legendary Grant Mitchell to play a significant part in the 40th celebrations.
‘Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang,’ Ross teased.
Cindy Beale’s attacker revealed
Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) was left for dead when she was whacked over the head with a shovel by a mystery assailant on Christmas Day after the truth about her affair with former stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) exploded.
With the finger of suspicion currently pointing at numerous characters, Cindy’s attacker will be unmasked at last during the anniversary week.
Special programming
Ahead of the big week, BBC Four will broadcast EastEnders Sings at the BBC, a look back at archive performances from cast members from Top of the Pops.
Ross Kemp will take a trip down Walford memory lane with a special hour-long documentary called EastEnders: 40 Years on The Square, taking fans behind the scenes as he delves into the show’s history and relieves some of the most memorable moments.
BBC Three will also offer viewers a look at the explosive anniversary storylines with a 45-minute interview special – EastEnders Revealed: The Lock In – hosted by Joe Swash as he chats to some of the actors who find themselves at the heart of the anniversary drama.
The Queen Vic explodes
As Billy and Honey Mitchell (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) prepare to walk down the aisle, their favourite boozer The Queen Victoria will burn to the ground.
Aerial pictures from filming show the pub blown to smithereens, with a car crashed into the side. There’s also a marquee in the middle of the Square Gardens – is this from the wedding?
We’re also wondering if Cindy’s absent daughter Cindy Jr could be responsible.
While the character – who was played by Mimi Keene – has not been seen since 2015, viewers have discovered how she has struggled to come to terms with the fact her mum has been alive and well all this time. Could she have secretly returned to Walford to have it out with her mum?
EastEnders’ 40th anniversary episodes air from Monday to Thursday this week at 7.30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
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