EastEnders Michelle Collins drops huge hint about Cindy Beale’s attacker as she teases ‘explosive’ 40th anniversary
EASTENDERS star Michelle Collins dropped a huge clue about Cindy Beale’s attacker as she teased an “explosive” 40th anniversary.
Cindy has been hell-bent on exposing who attacked her at Christmas and she will finally get answers in next week’s live episode.
Michelle, 62, said the attacker is someone viewers “won’t expect” – but confirmed it is definitely one of the people on the already announced suspect list.
This includes her daughters Anna and Gina, her ex-husband George and his new wife Elaine, her ex toyboy lover Junior, her betrayed and hurt fiance Ian Beale, his mother Kathy, her son Peter and girlfriend Lauren.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Michelle said at the TV Choice Awards: “It’s obviously someone very close to her and I think that’s what is so hard for her.
“I didn’t even know for a long time until we had a reveal at work. It’s not who people are thinking of – that’s all I’m going to say.
“It’s not someone you’ll expect, but it’s one of those suspects.”
She continued: “Cindy is a survivor, that’s all I can say. Whatever happens to her, she’ll always bounce back.”
Michelle said viewers are in for an intense 30 minute special and promised plenty of fireworks and bombshell moments.
Teasing what to expect for the 40th anniversary, Michelle said: “It’s going to a classic EastEnders, lots of the cast are in it.
“It’s a really exciting half hour of telly.
“I think people are very excited, the actors are excited but nervous to be doing it.
“They’ve got that great thing with Ravi and Denise and Jack about who she’s going to choose.
“I think that’s the first time they’ve ever done it. It’s really hard, I don’t know who the public will choose.
“I think she’s got more security with Jack. I love both of them in very different ways. Cindy would probably want her to choose Ravi.”
When asked if interactive telly was the way forward, Michelle laughed: “I’m not very good on my phone.”
Discussing her nerves ahead of the special live show, Michelle said: “I think everyone’s a bit nervous, we want to do it well.”
Michelle also spoke about the blunder actress Jo Joyner, who played Tanya Branning, made on the last live show in 2015, when she mixed up Ian’s character name with his real life name Adam Woodyatt.
“It’s really sad that all people remember is [Tanya] forgetting Ian’s name, it’s sad that people go ‘you forgot someone’s name’, because people put a lot of work into it,” Michelle said as she defended her EastEnders colleague.
Michelle also confirmed the upcoming Queen Vic fire will be showstopping, saying; “Pardon the pun, but it will be very explosive.”
The soap favourite played conniving Cindy from 1988 to 1998, before her character returned from the dead after a 25-year absence in 2023.
Speaking about legendary Albert Square icon Natalie Cassidy’s exit, after she announced she’s leaving the soap after 32 years, Michelle said: “I’m sad to see her go, but she’s been there a long time and she wants to go and do other things, and that’s what I did in 1998 and maybe she’ll come back. I wish her all the luck, she’s a lovely girl.”
Michelle also said she’s chuffed to reunite with her former on-screen husband Ross Kemp, adding: “I’m love Grant [Ross Kemp], I’m glad he’s back.”
Who attacked Cindy Beale at Christmas?
Here are a list of the suspects:
Cindy’s eldest daughter Gina
Cindy’s youngest daughter Anna
Ex-husband George
George’s new wife Elaine
Cindy’s ex toyboy lover Junior
Cindy’s betrayed fiance Ian Beale
Arch nemesis and Ian’s mother Kathy
Cindy’s beloved son Peter
Peter’s pregnant girlfriend Lauren
Cindy was left in a vulnerable position after she was attacked on Christmas Day.
Since she came home from hospital, Cindy (Michelle Collins) has faced a living nightmare.
Her partner Ian turfed her out the house, and she was dramatically served a mystery death threat.
Her former lover, Junior (Micah Balfour), accused her own daughter, Gina (Francesca Henry), of being behind the attack.
This was before he stole the shovel from the roof of the Vic after George (Colin Salmon) hid it to protect his family.
Previously, Cindy and Ian (Adam Woodyatt) had an almighty row in the pie shop.
This ended in Cindy giving her former husband a huge punch in the face, with Ian vowing legal retaliation.
It comes after Cindy took the shovel to the police in a bid to catch the attacker – believing it was Kathy Beale or Lauren Branning.
But in a spoiler for next week, Honey (Emma Barton) and Billy (Perry Fenwick) celebrate their wedding in the Vic, Cindy is set to interrupt their party.
She comes face-to-face with the person who she believes is behind the attack with a dramatic accusation.
There is one person that she believes brandished the shovel on that fateful night and she publicly blames them.
The guests of the wedding are left shocked to the core by the dramatic confrontation.
As she gets a hold of a gun, events are then set to take a dangerous turn.