EASTENDERS actress Michelle Collins has revealed why scheming character Cindy Beale WON’T be in the soap’s live show tonight.
The BBC One star also confirmed she had no idea Angie Watts would return from beyond the grave last night in what she dubbed “such a great episode” for the show’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
EastEnders’ Michelle Collins has confirmed why character Cindy Beale ISN’T in tonight’s live episode[/caption]
She was seen being whisked off in an ambulance[/caption]
It came after the Queen Vic was enveloped in flames after a huge explosion[/caption]
Michelle, 62, who first joined EastEnders back in 1988, spilled the beans in a live interview from Walford broadcast on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain.
Wrapped up in a thick black coat, she spoke to entertainment reporter Richard Arnold, 55, of the horrifying explosion scenes which saw flames tear through the Queen Vic pub and leaving many characters feared dead.
In one scene Sharon – who is played by actress Letitia Dean in the BBC soap – saw a vision of her mum Angie who begged her to start screaming for help.
“Use that voice and you start screaming for help,” she said. “That’s it baby, you start screaming for help. That’s my girl.”
It was a scene which saw actress Anita Dobson reprise her role as Queen Vic landlady Angie after a whopping 37 years.
Talking of the jaw-dropping moment, Michelle said: “Wasn’t it just fantastic?
“Oh it was brilliant, I didn’t know.
“I was watching with friends, and they were just like ‘oh my God it’s Ange, it’s Ange.
“It was such a great episode.
“Hopefully it’s everything that everybody wants and they will be glued to it tonight,” referring to tonight’s live episode.
Michelle then confirmed her feisty character, who was seen being whisked off in an ambulance with an oxygen mask attached to her face, would not return for this evening’s live show.
Wednesday’s episode saw Cindy and mum Kathy Beale trapped together with Cindy left bleeding badly.
Kathy was all for leaving her to bleed to death as she kicked her way through the rubble but changed her mind and tried to save her, successfully getting her out and to hospital.
EastEnders’ 40th anniversary cameos so far
With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford’s past. But who have we had so far?
Tracy-Ann Oberman – Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.
Paul Bradley – Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.
Micheal French – French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.
Patsy Palmer – Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.
Ricky Groves – Groves returned as Garry Hobbs, a character who has not been seen since 2009.
Cliff Parisi – Parisi returned as Minty Peterson, a character who was last seen on the square in 2010.
Ross Kemp – Kemp has returned to play Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp’s storyline as “explosive”. Kemp said it was an “absolute honour” to return to the show.
Other aspects of the 40th anniversary celebration include: A wedding between fan favorites, A huge explosion at the Queen Vic, and A live interactive episode.
Referring to the scene today, GMB reporter Richard said to Michelle: “You’re not in the live episode are you?” to which she referred to their 8am chat and replied: “I know.
“I was the only one who got up this early Richard to do this.”
She then confirmed: “Sadly Cindy isn’t in it.
“You know what, in a way I get it, why she cant be in it.
“So it’s less stressful for me – but exciting.”
Cindy was hit with a shovel at Christmas in the soap’s massive whodunnit plotline.
Meanwhile, fans now fear Martin Fowler is dead following the explosion.
Reiss Colwell then met his end in a brutal way after he was crushed by a bathtub following the explosion.
SHOW ABSENCE
Yet BBC One viewers have also claimed fan-favourite Jessie Wallace’s absence has been “the real story” of the soap’s milestone moment.
EastEnders viewers have now demanded to know the whereabouts of Kat Slater after actress Jessie’s absence from Billy Mitchell’s wedding prep for his nuptials with Honey.
Kat’s no show comes just months after the character was at the heart of a gritty child-to-parent abuse storyline on the BBC soap.
Viewers became concerned for the character after violence from son Tommy ramped up towards her, after she learned how husband Phil Mitchell had cheated on her.
With her absence from the small screen one fan put: “Where’s Kat?”
EastEnders airs a live episode on BBC One tonight.
Michelle admitted she was completely in the dark about Angie Watts’ shock return[/caption]
She said she ‘got it’ why Cindy couldn’t be a part of tonight’s live show[/caption]
Fans were stunned when Angie made her return last night[/caption]
