Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) name is firmly in the frame for Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) attack in EastEnders after she woke from her coma and delivered a huge blow to her estranged fiancé.
The soap icon has been in an induced coma since she was whacked over the head with a shovel by a mystery assailant on Christmas Day, after the truth about her affair with former stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) exploded in front of both their families.
The finger of suspicion has pointed at many of Cindy’s loved ones in the weeks since her attack, with ex-husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) coming under the spotlight when wife Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) discovered a bloodied shirt of his from Christmas night.
Claiming he took part in an illegal boxing match after the truth about Cindy and Junior came out, George managed to convince Elaine and his daughters Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry) he was innocent.
After they agreed to get rid of the shirt for George, their half-brother Peter Beale (Thomas Law) caught them in the act, leaving them with some serious explaining to do.
At first, Peter was unconvinced by George’s story, but relented when Gina and Anna turned the spotlight on Peter’s dad Ian, noting how suspicious it was that he had not been to visit Cindy in hospital.
Peter then warned his sisters they were ‘done’ if it turned out their dad was responsible.
Back home, Peter tried to talk his dad into visiting Cindy, and insisted that when she wakes up, he will be bringing her home to look after his mum.
Later, Ian took a call from the hospital with doctors confirming the the swelling on Cindy’s brain had gone down enough to bring her round from her coma.
Viewers then saw Cindy wake up as medics tended to her at her bedside.
She then seemed to seal her fianceé’s fate by uttering Ian’s name – did he really attack her?
EastEnders fans still have a while yet to go before finding out, however, as bosses have previously confirmed the truth will be revealed as part of the soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations in mid-February.
