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 d.e.a.d. She really is completely and utterly paranoid and running scared.’
Michelle, who returned to EastEnders when Cindy was brought back from the d.e.a.d 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.
