Speculation has been rife for years that EastEnders’ Cindy Beale was set to make a sensational return from the dead.
Now actress Michelle Collins, who played the iconic character, has spoken out about the possibility of a comeback to the show that made her name.
And fans aren’t going to like her answer…
Bad girl Cindy, on-off wife of Ian Beale, and mother to his children, was originally killed off-screen in 1998 when she reportedly died in childbirth in prison.
But many viewers have always been convinced because we didn’t actually see her death, it never happened and, in fact, she’s in witness protection somewhere.
But speaking to The Sun Online at the launch of Ricola cough sweets in the UK, the actress revealed:
“I don’t know whether people would buy it though.
“She is dead. I’ve always dismissed it because she’s been dead so in a way they sort of did me a favour because I can never really go back.”
She put the final nail in the coffin of the idea when she added: “I think I’d spoil it if I go back.”
She might have a point!
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It wouldn’t be the first time EastEnders has tried to bring such an iconic character back from the dead.
In 2003 the legendary Dirty Den Watts returned 14 years after he was supposedly shot dead by a gun hidden in a bunch of daffodils and fell into the canal.
“‘Ello Princess” he said as he revealed to adopted daughter Sharon he’d been living in sunny Spain for over a decade.
He spent the next two years sleazing his way round Walford before he was eventually killed for good by his long-suffering wife, Chrissie Watts.
More recently, the show pulled off one of its biggest shocks ever when it brought Kathy Beale back from the dead in the live 30th anniversary week.
Having been forced to fake her death by her unhinged husband Gavin, Kathy managed to escape his clutches (eventually), got away without even having to do any jail time, and is now a permanent fixture on the Square.
Could Ian really cope with both his mum and his ex-wife coming back from the grave though?
Cindy certainly caused a whole heap of trouble in her time – even hiring a hitman to KILL Ian.
Michelle also revealed she’s thrilled that Cindy’s legacy lives on – even nearly 20 years after she was last seen.
“It’s quite nice having that mystery about her, it’s flattering that people still remember her and that’s she’s become this iconic sort of character really.”
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Currently starring in play A Dark Night In Dalston, at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, Michelle was last seen in Soapland when she played Stella Price in Coronation Street.
“It’s difficult out there, particularly for me because people think they know me,” she revealed. “Even though I’ve done a huge body of work between EastEnders and Corrie, having gone back to Corrie you’re labelled a soap actress.
“There’s no disrespect at all and that’s fantastic but if you want to break out and do other things it’s quite difficult.”