We edge closer to learning Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) attacker in EastEnders next week.
There’s just over a month until the perpetrator is revealed, as the BBC soap prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a live episode, a wedding and a huge explosion at The Queen Vic pub.
It’s going to be quite the event!
Ever since Cindy was struck over the head with a snow shovel on Christmas Day in the aftermath of her estrangement from both the Beale and Knight families.
She was planning to make a quick escape from the area for pastures new, realising that her affair with former step-son Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) had ruined any prospect of a future in Walford.
Last week, we saw Cindy wake up from her coma and ask for her estranged partner Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), just days after her ex-husband George Knight’s (Colin Salmon) bloody shirt was found bundled away a cupboard.
Ian insisted that if he was responsible, he’d have finished the job (charming), whilst George claimed he was taking part in a fight that evening to vent his anger.
After speaking with DCI Arthurs (Ian Burfield), Cindy later dobbed Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) in.
Things aren’t going well for Cindy and Reiss (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Peter is torn between his mum and supporting Lauren (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
But who really is responsible?!
In upcoming scenes, Cindy wakes up at twisted Reiss Colwell’s (Jonny Freeman) house, after son Peter (Thomas Law) secured her an alternative place to stay.
The new living arrangement isn’t harmonious, and before long Reiss orders her to move out and find somewhere else to stay.
She’s still unsure who to trust, confused by Peter’s support of Lauren, and screens his calls.
Despite the uncertainty, he does genuinely care about his mum and is stressing about her wellbeing, causing him to clash with grandmother Kathy (Gillian Taylforth).
Ian soon arrives to chat with Cindy and convinces her to head to The Vic, where George, his wife Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) and daughter Gina (Francesca Henry) are ready and waiting to let their feelings be known.
This is bound to be tense!
The family are questioning Ian’s motives, whilst Gina and sister Anna (Molly Rainford) are keen for their dad to sit down and chat with Cindy himself.
With Ian reluctant to let George anywhere near her, Elaine is forced to put a plan into action to lure him away from her – and to turn Cindy against him.
What is their game?
It all kicks off in the barrel store, with George lashing out at Ian. Elaine overhears the altercation and follows her husband, before a damning piece of evidence is found.
What have Elaine and George found? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
The couple try and work out their next move after the shocking discovery, and things quickly turn sour as they begin to point the finger.
They reason to question Gina and Anna, with the family’s future firmly on the line moving forward.
Later, Anna’s jaw hits the floor when she overhears her sister having a secret conversation with Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) at The Arches.
What is she hiding?
