In a twist worthy of soap legend, EastEnders fans are in for yet another shock: Michelle Collins is returning to Albert Square as the infamous Cindy Beale—just two months after her last dramatic exit. At 62, the veteran actress is proving she’s far from done with stirring up chaos in Walford. And this time, she’s not just back for nostalgia’s sake. According to inside reports, Cindy’s return will come with life-altering news for the Beale family—and considering her recent attempt to murder her husband, it’s safe to say viewers should brace themselves.

Collins, who first brought Cindy Beale to life back in 1988, stunned audiences in 2023 when she returned to the BBC soap after her character was believed to have died in childbirth 25 years earlier. Her reappearance set social media ablaze—and the EastEnders writers didn’t disappoint. Cindy quickly became central to one of the soap’s biggest anniversary plotlines, culminating in a fiery explosion at the Queen Vic, aired during the show’s 40th anniversary in February.

But just as quickly as she reappeared, Cindy once again disappeared from the Square. Fans were left wondering whether her return had been a brief stunt or the start of a longer arc. Now, that question is answered: she’s coming back, and she’s bringing secrets that could upend the Beale family for good.

Let’s rewind to Cindy’s last jaw-dropping scenes. In February, she attempted to push Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt)—her on-and-off love interest and longtime soap fixture—in front of a car, a scene that spiraled into chaos. Ian, swerving out of the way, crashed into the Queen Vic, inadvertently igniting a blaze that would claim the life of Martin Fowler (James Bye).

When Ian later uncovered the full extent of Cindy’s betrayal, he threatened to report her to the police, not only for attempted murder but for her possible link to the pub explosion. In an intense standoff, Ian demanded she leave Albert Square—or face criminal charges. She complied, exiting the show once again… but fans knew better than to count her out for good.

While Cindy vanished from the Square, Michelle Collins didn’t exactly take a break from the spotlight. In fact, she’s been busy with her latest creative project: starring in her own comedy theatre piece titled Motorhome Marilyn. The one-woman show, which Collins also helped conceive, sees her portray Ruthie Richards, a failed actress forced to become a Marilyn Monroe impersonator after her dreams of Hollywood stardom crash and burn.

Set to debut at this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Motorhome Marilyn runs from 30 July to 25 August at the Gilded Balloon Patter House, where Collins will perform nightly at 5:30pm. Written by Ben Weatherill and directed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones, the show has allowed Collins to explore a more comedic, personal side of performance. And although she’s admitted to being unsure at first whether to return to EastEnders, she now says she feels like she’s “come full circle.”

Of her decision to reprise Cindy, Collins was candid: “You want to know that you’ve made the right decision. I don’t know whether I have… But I’m liking it and I’m loving being back, actually.”