All that happens on EastEnders next week as Cindy Beale makes dramatic return

22 August 2023 , 08:00

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All that happens on EastEnders next week as Cindy Beale makes dramatic return

Cindy Beale is back in Walford - and there's chaos on EastEnders next week as she makes her return home.

Michelle Collins was last seen in Albert Square back in 2007 when she was arrested for attempted murder. She was seen taking Ian to court for custody of their kids and ended up winning, but her moment of happiness soon ended when the hitman who targeted Ian on her behalf told about her involvement and Ian ended up getting full custody of the kids.

We last heard she had died in childbirth during her stint in prison, but that actually turned out to be a lie. She had been put into witness protection after an incident in jail and assumed the name Rose. She went on to marry George Knight, and they had daughters Gina and Anna together, with the trio ending up back in Walford.

After years away, she is now back in Walford - and Ian and Peter Beale are also in tow. Here's what happens next week on the BBC soap as Cindy (or Rose) is forced to make some uncomfortable reunions...

Cindy's arrival stuns her ex George Knight (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Next week on the BBC soap, Cindy meets with Peter who has had a call from Ian and urged her to come back to France. However, she refuses his request and heads to find Kathy. She's desperate not to be seen by everyone else, but she's forced to head to face the music and all hell breaks loose when the women finally reunite after so long.

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Ian arrives, and is desperate to whisk Cindy away before anymore trouble is caused - but she is stopped in her tracks by her ex-husband George Knight, who bumps into her after leaving the Vic. George is surprised to see her back, but soon realises she didn't know they were there and had returned for another reason. Cindy asks George where Gina and Anna are, but he lies and tells Cindy they are in Spain. Desperate to protect his kids, he takes Cindy somewhere private to get some much-needed answers.

Peter and Ian have a heart to heart as he reveals why he didn't want Cindy to return to Albert Square (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Realising her daughters are so close, Cindy makes a run for it - and comes face-to-face with them both and all the residents of Walford. Elsewhere, Ian struggles as he reveals to Peter about the real reason why he didn't want Cindy to come home. Consoling his dad, Peter then heads to the Vic to celebrate Anna's birthday, and there are even more shocked faces when Ian arrives.

Cindy is forced to try and explain everything to her daughters, but they are having none of it. Struggling with the news, they head to Peggy's to drown their sorrows - but things soon get out of hand. Meanwhile, Ian is desperately trying to avoid Sharon and Phil - but he makes no secret of the fact he wants Ian gone. Ian heads to see Kathy, but is left even more shocked when her connection to the Knights is revealed. Bobby is concerned that Cindy and Anna will hate him for what happened to Lucy.

Fuming with how it has all panned out, George orders Cindy to leave Walford with the rest of the Beales. Alone, he breaks down, clearly overwhelmed by everything that has happened so far.

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Jasmine Allday