Controversial EastEnders icon stages chaotic return with huge consequences

Trouble has returned! (Picture: BBC)

Shamed Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) stages a shock return to EastEnders next week, spelling more trouble for the Beales and Knight families.

The controversial E20 icon left Walford in disgrace during the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary in February, following a huge showdown with ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and his mother Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth). 

During the explosive week of episodes, fans saw Cindy uncover that it was her ex-mother-in-law who had attacked her and left her for dead after her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) was exposed at Christmas. 

In her bid for revenge, Cindy shot Ian before pushing him in front of Reiss Colwell’s (Jonny Freeman) speeding car. This caused the twisted killer to swerve and crash into the Queen Vic, sparking an explosion that resulted in Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) death. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, no one is pleased to see her! (Picture: BBC)

In the aftermath, Cindy eventually agreed not to shop Kathy to the police, and told the rest of the Knight-Beale clan that she was leaving to stay with her best friend Gita – but it was clear she was biding her time for retribution. 

In recent weeks, Cindy’s son Peter Beale (Thomas Law) learned she had gone AWOL from Gita’s, but his fiancée Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) is set to get an unwelcome surprise in forthcoming scenes when Cindy makes a reappearance at their engagement party. 

As the day of the event arrives, heavily-pregnant Lauren is worried following her final midwife check-up when potential complications are discussed, and fumes when distracted Peter leaves to take a call. 

She tries to put things to the back of her mind as she and Peter later celebrate with family and friends at Harry’s Barn, but their happiness is short-lived when Cindy unexpectedly joins the party. 

Peter attempts to defuse the situation, but Lauren leaves and issues him an ultimatum – it’s her or Cindy. 

Meanwhile, the rest of the Beales and Knights shun Cindy once again, but she retaliates by revealing all about Kathy attacking her. 

Cindy’s actions ultimately caused the Queen Vic explosion in February (Picture: BBC)

With her secret exposed, could Kathy be looking at a stretch behind bars?

Cindy’s tour of terror does not end there, though, as she soon heads to No.29A to face off with Lauren. 

However, Cindy is shocked when she arrives to find her rival in labour – will she be able to put aside their differences to help safely deliver her grandchild?

‘Cindy comes back wanting to make amends, and wanting to get back with her family, but I think what she doesn’t realise is that people have not forgotten and they’re not going to forgive her that easily’, star Michelle Collins explained.

‘It’s going to take a long time, and Cindy gets a bit of a shock when she comes back from how people react to her.’

‘What Cindy has been through in her life has had a huge effect on her and she reacts in very different ways to other people. She believes in fighting for her cause, and she will not back down.

She added: ‘Even if somebody were to say to Cindy, “I don’t like you” she would think she would be able to change their minds. She also has unconditional love for her kids. Granted, she may not be the perfect mum, but she is still their mum and she has fought for her kids a lot over the years.’

EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 5 May at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.