Cindy’s back (Picture: BBC)
Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins)’ return to EastEnders earlier this year shocked and delighted fans of the soap as the character – long thought to be dead – was revealed to be living in France with Ian (Adam Woodyatt) and son Peter (Thomas Law).
And that storyline’s set to go into overdrive in upcoming episodes as Cindy returns to Walford – paving the way for some explosive drama with Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), as well as some old faces and the family she built during her time away.
While everybody believed Cindy to have died in childbirth, she has in fact spent the past quarter century living under witness protection, having made a life for herself with the new identity Rose Knight.
With daughters Anna and (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry), trying to track their mum down in recent months, they’re also in for a major shock when she appears in the Square.
But just why has the character spent the past 25 years in witness protection?
Why was Cindy Beale in witness protection?
Cindy went into witness protection in 1998 after turning informant on her cellmate, gangster Jackie Ford – leading to the story that she had died giving birth to her daughter Cindy Jr in prison.
Her comeback episode saw her receive a visit from a police handler named Mary, telling her that Jackie Ford had died, meaning Cindy’s witness protection programme was finally over.
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Her shock return to the show came in June as she was revealed to be Rose Knight, the ‘missing’ wife of Walford newcomer George Knight (Colin Salmon).
The following episode also saw Ian return, only for the character to collapse with a heart attack shortly after learning that Cindy’s time in the witness protection programme was over.
How does Cindy return to Walford?
Several months later, Cindy is finally set to take the plunge and head back to Albert Square in search of Peter after he goes over to help half-brother Bobby (Clay Milner Russell).
Ian isn’t keen on the idea, and quickly jumps on a plane after her, in order to get her back to France before anyone sees her.
Cindy reappeared in June as her secret identity in witness protection was revealed (Picture: BBC)
‘When we decided to bring Cindy back it was imperative that we stuck to the facts that had played out on screen beforehand to ensure that the storyline was credible,’ said the show’s executive producer Chris Clenshaw.
‘It was always going around in the back of my mind, it was always there,’ he mused, addressing the idea of Cindy’s comeback.
‘It wasn’t until one of our writers had pitched a different story, but it was the return of Cindy Beale, and everyone kind of gasped and everyone was behind that idea, which made me go – well maybe there is something in this.
‘These things can take a while to get from idea to screen and it’s a lot to align. I don’t know if it was always part of my plan but it was definitely in the background somewhere.’
Expect fireworks as Cindy encounters some old faces (Picture: BBC)
Actress Michelle Collins has added that fans of the soap can definitely expect bits of the old Cindy to come back.
‘I also think that people would be a little bit disappointed if they didn’t have the old bits. She’s the kind of person that’s not going to sit at home and knit, I don’t think.
‘In a way, she was a character that women hated her but they kind of wanted to be her, because of the way she behaved.
‘She was unapologetic, in a time when women on TV weren’t really portrayed that way. So, I think that’s why she literally got away with murder!
EastEnders continues on BBC One on Thursday night at 7.30pm.
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