EastEnders’ Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) may have left Walford to lick her wounds after the dramatic events of the 40th anniversary, but she continues to haunt her family next week.
Last month, Cindy was stunned to learn that it was ex-mother-in-law Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) who had attacked her and left her for d.e.a.d after her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) was exposed at Christmas.
In her bid for revenge, Cindy shot Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), before pushing him in front of Reiss Colwell’s car. This caused him to swerve and crash into the Queen Vic, sparking an explosion that resulted in Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) d.e.a.t.h.
In the aftermath, Cindy eventually agreed not to shop Kathy to the police, and told the rest of the Knights and the Beales she was leaving to stay with her best friend Gita.
However, she swore to Junior that she would return for revenge on her unwitting family.
There’s an ominous update on Cindy’s whereabouts next week as anticipation builds for her return.
As the day of Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale’s (Thomas Law) baby scan arrives, Peter is distracted taking a phone call.
He’s concerned for Cindy when Gita informs him his mum has gone AWOL, and misses the scan as a result.
This spells huge trouble for his relationship with Lauren, who is angry that Cindy continues to haunt their family.
At Beales Eels, Kathy and Ian encourage Peter to make amends with Lauren, and he decides it’s time to propose.
He’s devastated when Lauren then declines, as she later explains her reasons to a guilt-ridden Kathy.
Will Lauren and Peter be able to get their relationship back on track – or is Cindy about to return and further derail things?
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 31 March at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
