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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Daniel Bird

EastEnders' Michelle Collins 'doesn't know' if BBC soap return was right decision

EastEnders actress Michelle Collins has opened up about her return to the soap which sent viewers into a frenzy.

Her character, Cindy Beale, was believed to have died in the BBC soap 25 years ago after giving birth to her daughter Cindy while in prison.

However, it was revealed on Thursday night that Cindy was in fact placed in the witness protection programme after striking a deal to become a police informant.

Since entering the programme, Cindy had been leaving as Rose Knight – who shares another connection to Albert Square after it emerged she was George's former partner and mother of his daughters.

Speaking about her "ridiculous" return, Michelle said: "I said to my agent, 'Oh, this is ridiculous, it's never going to happen'."

Cindy Beale recently returned from the 'dead' (PA)

Michelle, 61, went on to tell The Sun: "We had this breakfast meeting and Chris [Clenshaw – Eastenders' executive producer] got his laptop out and it all reeled off.

"We both went 'Wow, oh my God,' and then I was like 'maybe this could work', you want to know that you’ve made the right decision. I don't know whether I have."

Despite her reservations, the actress who has since appeared on ITV's Coronation Street admits that she's loving her time back in Walford.

Following her secret exit from the soap, Cindy had been living a life of luxury and met her former partner, George, who she shares Anna and Gina with.

However, she is unaware that her former partner and two daughters are now living in Albert Square after he fell in love with Elaine Peacock.

But Cindy has also found a new love – with Ian Beale, again, despite having previously shot him.

While it's unclear when Ian and Cindy had reunited, Thursday night's episode saw their son, Peter Beale, explain that Ian had discovered Cindy's truth a little over a year ago.

The family had been living a life of luxury in France while renting a lavish villa while Ian had been attempting to sell baguettes at a local market.

Despite walking out on the Knight family, Cindy is set to wreak havoc for them as the truth is set to descend on Albert Square.

In shocking scenes which aired on Tuesday, George was informed that there was no evidence of a Rose Knight existing and that the woman in question had been living a lie.

In scenes which are yet to air, former boxer George struggles to come to terms with the revelation as he goes on the hunt to find out what actually happened to his former wife.

His lies soon become too much for him and everything is unravelled when he's confronted by Elaine.

But while George is revealing all about his ex-wife, who walked out on him and their two daughters, things don't go to plan as they're interrupted by his younger daughter, Ana.

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