EastEnders tonight: Cindy Beale’s return from the dead is 'nothing short of explosive'

There’s a special extended episode of EastEnders on the way on BBC One at 7.30pm tonight, following the shocking cliffhanger that Rose Knight is actually classic character Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).

But before we delve into our biggest burning questions around the return described by soap bosses as "nothing less than explosive" let’s start at the beginning.

Although we were promised the truth about what happened to the missing Rose, the estranged wife of George Knight (Colin Salmon), the bombshell dropped by Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) gave way to a whole new mystery.

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Persuaded to do some digging by a suspicious Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Phil enlisted the help of his police detective son-in-law Callum Highway (Tony Clay) and longtime solicitor Ritchie Scott (Sian Webber).

Phil eventually revealed that Rose was not dead at the hands of George, as Linda had suspected. But the former Mrs Knight had no interest in reuniting with daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).

Read more: Every returning EastEnders character confirmed so far

George was left upset, and Linda realised he was genuine as he confided that the last time he saw Rose, they had a blazing row and he told her that if she left, she could never come back.

Later, Phil had more news for George, revealing that no such person called Rose Knight had ever existed. Then, as George tried to call the woman he knew as Rose, viewers were shown a glimpse of Cindy Beale declining his call.

Alive and well and sipping wine by a pool, Cindy’s return from the dead comes 25 years after her ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) was told that she had died in prison. The mother of two of Ian’s children, the late Lucy (Hetti Bywater) and twin brother Peter (last played by Dayle Hudson), Cindy had been jailed for hiring a hitman to shoot Ian.

Now it’s been confirmed that, despite her past actions, Cindy and Ian will be heading back to Walford together. Although previously, it seemed that there was no real reason for Cindy to venture back to her old home, now we know that newcomers Gina and Anna are her daughters.

Read more: EastEnders fans getting excited as soap teases Ian Beale return

She abandoned them nine years ago; apparently around the time that news of Lucy’s death would have been circulating in the media. So, did Cindy pack up and leave amid her secret torment?

And what exactly happened for the Beales to be lied to about Cindy’s fate? Was this her choice, or was she forced to go into hiding? We already know that any police intelligence on ‘Rose’ has been locked down, so we can make an educated guess that Cindy didn’t deceive her family lightly.

While we can’t give even the tiniest hint on tonight's instalment, you certainly won't want to miss it. EastEnders’ executive producer, Chris Clenshaw, has spoken of Cindy and Ian’s comeback.

“Now everyone knows that she is in fact Rose Knight, secrets are set to be revealed as viewers will learn about the circumstances surrounding their return, including the million dollar question — how is Cindy alive when she was declared dead in 1998 — and later this summer Ian and Cindy’s comeback will be nothing less than explosive for The Square.”

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Meanwhile, speaking for the first time about her return, Michelle Collins teased that “just like the old days: where Cindy goes, drama usually follows.”

That’s enough of an indication that things are about to get explosive…

EastEnders unravels its latest bombshell tonight on BBC One from 7.30pm.

Watch the latest EastEnders spoilers