{"id":34161,"date":"2023-06-22T21:00:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T19:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1834185"},"modified":"2023-06-22T22:22:36","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T20:22:36","slug":"what-happened-to-cindy-beale-in-eastenders-michelle-collins-role-explained","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/what-happened-to-cindy-beale-in-eastenders-michelle-collins-role-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"What happened to Cindy Beale in EastEnders? Michelle Collins role explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Michelle Collins is a soap icon for her role as EastEnders villainess Cindy Beale. <\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 22 June 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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In a massive shock to EastEnders<\/a> fans, Cindy Beale (played by Michelle Collins) returned<\/a> to the BBC soap for the first time in 25 years.<\/p>\n

It was reported she would be be coming back, but the details behind her return were kept under tight wraps \u2013 and now we know where she\u2019s been all this time.<\/p>\n

Viewers on Wednesday 21st June 2023 saw it confirm<\/a> the fan theory that Cindy is actually Rose Knight<\/a>, the wife of new Queen Vic landlord George Knight (Colin Salmon)<\/a> and the mother of his daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s plenty more drama on the way, especially as she\u2019s been concealing her identity \u2013 and the fact she\u2019s been alive \u2013 for the past quarter century.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say there\u2019s a lot to catch up on \u2013 and now we can talk about exactly what happened to Cindy Beale. Read on for the low-down.<\/p>

Who is Cindy Beale in EastEnders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""EastEnders\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
EastEnders actress Michelle Collins in 1996.<\/span><\/figcaption> TV Times\/Future Publishing via Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Cindy Beale, maiden name Williams, was the first wife of Ian Beale and the mother of his children Lucy Beale (most recently Hetti Bywater) and Peter Beale (most recently Dayle Hudson).<\/p>\n

From a relationship with Ian\u2019s step-brother Simon Wicks (Nick Berry), Cindy conceived her eldest child, Steven Beale (most recently Aaron Sidwell).<\/p>\n

Cindy later entered into a relationship with a man named Nick Holland (Dominic Taylor) and conceived her youngest child who was named Cindy (most recently Mimi Keene) after her mother.<\/p>\n

Through her children, Cindy is the grandmother of Cindy Jr.\u2019s daughter Beth Williams, Peter\u2019s son Louie Beale, and Steven\u2019s daughter Abi Branning Jr.<\/p>\n

How is Cindy Beale alive in EastEnders?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The million pound question: how is<\/em> Cindy Beale still alive in EastEnders? Viewers were told she was killed in prison back in the 90s\u2026 but as TV fans know all too well: if you don\u2019t see the body, don\u2019t assume they\u2019re really gone.<\/p>\n

Well, all was answered in EastEnders\u2019 Thursday 22nd June 2023 episode, where viewers picked up Cindy and Ian\u2019s love story in France.<\/p>\n

Accompanied by Peter and his son Louie, the pair were living the dream in France. Swimming in their own pool, a massive forest to explore, and a beautiful market nearby where Ian could flog his dodgy baguettes, things couldn\u2019t look more idyllic.<\/p>\n

But the real truth is that Cindy had to go into witness protection to escape her vengeful cellmate.<\/p>\n

Cindy adopted the identity of \u201cRose\u201d, and would be released from prison, but told to never go back to Walford \u2013 and forget the idea of seeing her kids again.<\/p>\n

\""Adam\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Rose went on to start a new life, falling in love with George Knight (Colin Salmon) and the pair would go on to wed and share two children together, Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry).<\/p>\n

Their marriage would eventually fall apart (for reasons that are still unclear at time of writing), and Rose would run away to France.<\/p>\n

The exact date of her reunion with Ian hasn\u2019t been established, but we know he found out Cindy was still alive in 2022 \u2013 and they were living together at the time of Dot\u2019s funeral, when Ian made a mysterious call to his \u201clove\u201d<\/a> (who turned out to be Cindy!).<\/p>\n

As for what the future holds, we\u2019re still waiting to find out when Cindy and Ian will return to EastEnders permanently<\/a>. Until then, expect more drama as George reels from finding out the truth about his ex-wife\u2026<\/p>\n

Read More<\/strong><\/p>\n