Brace yourself, EastEnders fans — next week on the Square is set to be packed with betrayal, heartbreak, and a long-overdue reckoning. Cindy Beale, played by Michelle Collins, is making a dramatic return on Monday, 5th May, and she’s ready to drop a bombshell that could rock Walford to its core.

Viewers who have followed the rollercoaster saga will remember Cindy’s tense departure earlier this year after the Queen Vic explosion — a disaster that claimed the lives of Martin Fowler and Reiss Colwell. Although Cindy survived, she left behind tantalizing clues that she wasn’t done with Walford yet — and now, the full truth is about to come spilling out.

On the night of the devastating explosion, Cindy had made a horrifying discovery: it was Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) — her own former mother-in-law — who had brutally attacked her on Christmas Day. Armed with this knowledge, Cindy had every reason to walk away forever. Ironically, fate had other ideas. Mere hours after realizing Kathy was her attacker, Cindy found herself trapped in the wreckage of the Queen Vic — only to be saved by the very woman who had tried to kill her.

But Cindy hasn’t forgiven or forgotten. Next week, she storms back into the heart of Walford determined to expose Kathy’s violent betrayal.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Albert Square, the Beales and Knights are gathered at Harry’s Barn to celebrate the engagement of Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Peter Beale (Thomas Law), who are also expecting their second child. It’s supposed to be a joyful night — but old tensions soon bubble to the surface.

After a tasteless comment from Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Lauren retreats to the office, needing space. Kathy follows to offer some comfort, managing to coax her back to the party — but any peace is short-lived. In a moment no one sees coming, Cindy crashes the celebration, sending shockwaves through the room.

Peter desperately tries to smooth things over, but Lauren is furious, issuing an ultimatum: it’s her or Cindy. The confrontation leaves Peter torn between loyalty to his fiancée and his complicated relationship with his mother.

Even as her family turns their backs on her, Cindy refuses to be silenced. She reveals the grim truth — that Kathy attacked her with a shovel and left her for dead. With her secret now laid bare, Kathy’s carefully constructed façade begins to crumble.

Cindy’s next move brings even more chaos. She heads to 29A, hoping to confront Lauren, only to find her in the middle of labour. With no time to waste and the ambulance delayed, Cindy steps up, taking charge of the situation and rushing Lauren to the hospital. Back at the party, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) is left to deliver the shocking news to Peter, adding yet another layer of emotional upheaval.

While Cindy rises to the occasion, Kathy’s world continues to fall apart. Seeking solace, she turns to her new love interest Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman). But just as they share a tender moment, they’re interrupted by Harvey’s unsuspecting girlfriend, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright).

Thinking on her feet, Kathy scrambles to explain away their closeness. Thankfully, Jean is too preoccupied with worrying about dementia-stricken Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) to notice anything suspicious — at least for now.

However, Kathy’s problems are far from over. Harvey, eager to escape the drama, invites Kathy on a cozy caravan holiday. Yet even this simple plan spirals into chaos when Jean finds the holiday brochure. In classic Slater fashion, a massive misunderstanding erupts, with the family mistakenly believing the trip was intended for them.

Kathy’s web of lies is tightening by the day. As Cindy’s shocking revelation spreads across the Square, the question looms: can Kathy possibly recover from this scandal? Or is her reign in Walford nearing its inevitable end?

With alliances crumbling, secrets surfacing, and long-buried resentments roaring back to life, EastEnders is hurtling towards one of its most explosive weeks in recent memory.