EastEnders legend Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) returned with a bang on Monday after a 25-year hiatus from the BBC soap.
As Cindy finally made her dramatic return to the square, she paid a visit to her mother-in-law Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).
Cindy explained that she had been in France with her son Ian and grandson Peter, leaving Kathy furious as she thought Cindy was dead.
After Cindy called Kathy’s son Ben Mitchell “a real psychopath,” Kathy lashed out by punching her in the face.
The pair continued to hit each other and throw insults at each other until Kathy pushed Cindy to the ground while calling her “a bi**h.”
Iconic: EastEnders legend Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) returned with a bang on Monday after a 25-year hiatus from the BBC soap
BBC viewers praised the explosive scene, with one penning: ‘Those scenes between Cindy and Kathy were EastEnders at its best’
Another said, “Not minutes have been reunited and the blows are flying between Cindy and Kathy. The EastEnders we know and love’
A third added: ‘That was iconic’
The episode ended with George Knight stepping out the doors of the Vic for a breather and turning to face his ex-wife, leaving them both in shock.
In June, it was revealed that Michelle was returning to the soap with her ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and their son Peter (Thomas Law).
Fans were led to believe that the mother died in childbirth after plotting to kill her then-husband, but it turns out that 26 years later, Cindy is alive and well and has been living a glamorous life in the sun.
In the suspenseful trailer, Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) looked utterly stunned when Cindy entered the house, despite being presumed dead.
The pair famously despised each other after Cindy cheated on Kathy’s son Ian with David Wickes, and it’s been teased that the pair will face each other again upon Cindy’s return.
And their tense argument was teased when Cindy made her grand entrance, with Kathy sharing her shock as she said, “You’re dead!”
Return: When Cindy finally made her dramatic return to the square, she paid a visit to her mother-in-law Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth)
BBC viewers praised the explosive scene, with one penning: ‘Those scenes between Cindy and Kathy were EastEnders at its best’
Clearly no longer ‘dead’, Cindy is about to wreak havoc on the BBC soap opera when she steps back into Albert Square after claiming she’s always wanted to go there.
In the 30-second trailer, Kathy warned everyone about her plans as her daughter-in-law walked through Walford.
She wasn’t the only one to warn the residents against her, as Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) reminds Ian that Cindy has always been deceitful.
It’s unclear who Ian is trying to convince, but he insisted at one point, “It’s different this time!”
Cindy supposedly died while in prison for hiring a hit man to kill Ian.
But it seems she’s leading a double life in witness protection under the name “Rose Knight.”
In a further twist, she was revealed to be the absent wife of Queen Vic landlord George Knight (Colin Salmon), and mother of their two daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).
Elsewhere in the suspenseful trailer, George was seen looking at a photo of “Rose” – the name Cindy went by when she dated him.
Cheeky: After Cindy called Kathy’s son Ben Mitchell ‘a real psychopath’, Kathy lashed out by punching her in the face
Wow: Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) reminds Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) that Cindy has always been deceitful. It’s unclear who Ian is trying to convince, but he insists, “It’s different this time!”
Stunned: In the trailer, Anna and Gina (pictured) walk through the market, completely oblivious to the fact that after all this time they are about to come face to face with their mother (pictured with George)
The identity of Queen Vic landlord George Knight’s ex-wife had been kept under wraps, but a teaser at the end of Wednesday’s episode showed Cindy taking George’s call as she sprawled poolside on a lounger in France .
George could be seen pouring himself a cognac and playing Seal’s Kiss From A Rose on the pub’s jukebox before the scene cut to Cindy, confirming weeks of suspicion about Rose’s true identity.
In the trailer, Anna and Gina walk around the market giggling, completely oblivious to the fact that they are face to face with their mother after all this time.
Cindy will be forced to do some explaining when she returns at the end of the month for a week of episodes covering the storyline.
The comeback will bring even more drama, which will kick off in the fall.