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 d.e.a.d 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 b.l.o.o.d.i.e.d 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 p.a.i.n.k.i.l.l.e.r.s.
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 d.e.a.d 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 p.a.i.n.k.i.l.l.e.r.s.
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.
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.
