Michelle Collins spotted travelling to secret EastEnders shoot after soap return revelation

Michelle Collins was spotted traveling to a secret EastEnders shoot just weeks before it was publicly revealed she will return to the soap.

The former soap star, 60, boarded a BBC hire car earlier this month, which took her to a secret filming location near Colney, London, before returning.

In the newly released photos, Michelle cut a casual figure in black trousers and a striped shirt, while keeping warm in a trendy jacket.

She put on a stealthy display as she donned big sunglasses and a black fluffy scarf as she got into a car to go to the secret filming session.

Michelle completed her look with a black shoulder bag and was also spotted wearing a beige trench coat on another filming day.

Hush hush: The actress, 60, was spotted in a BBC rental car earlier this month as it took her to a secret filming location near Colney, London

After her collection, Michelle was driven down a dirt road to a remote farm where filming was taking place.

She is said to be filming scenes with her former on-screen husband, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who is also returning to the soap after a two-year break.

Adam was also spotted near the set, doing some shopping at a nearby store.

The clean-shaven actor kept a low profile in an all-black ensemble including cap as he exited the mysterious shot.

Michelle, who played Cindy Beale from 1988 to 1998, is returning to EastEnders 25 years after her character was killed off, it was confirmed on Friday.

Michelle will make her return, even though her character would have died offscreen giving birth while in jail for attempted murder.

A source told The sun“This is so sneaky, but it’s going to be an absolute bombshell — an incredible twist.” Ian and Cindy are one of the most memorable couples in soap history.

“But Cindy has been dead for 25 years — and no one will see this coming.

“The biggest surprise is that Michelle has said so many times that she wouldn’t come back.”

Special Delivery: The car took her down a dirt road to a remote farm

Escape to the countryside: She filmed several scenes in this farmhouse with on-screen former husband, Adam Woodyatt

Reunited: Adam, who played Ian Beale on the soap, returns to the screen after two years

Sneaky: She exuded discretion as she headed to the shoot, wearing big black sunglasses and a big black fuzzy scarf to partially hide her face

Spy style: one of the days she swapped her black leather jacket for a trench coat, matching the spy theme

Partners in crime: Adam was also spotted in a local store, following his former wife’s on-screen spying

Back with a bang: Michelle returns to EastEnders 25 years after her character was killed off (she is pictured in 1989 as Cindy Beale alongside Adam Woodyatt, who played Ian Beale)

Comeback: The actress starred as Cindy Beale in the BBC soap opera from 1988 to 1998 and will reportedly return to screens (pictured this month)

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and representatives for Michelle and Adam for comment.

Since her time in Albert Square, Michelle has built a successful career on both stage and screen, having enjoyed a stint as Rovers Return landlady Stella Price on rival soap opera Coronation Street.

She has also appeared in stage productions of musicals such as Thoroughly Modern Millie and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

In 2019, the Two Thousand Acres of Sky actress – who during her time on the BBC soap saw her character having a series of affairs that led Ian to hire a private detective – commented that she hadn’t been able to shake Cindy off and remained adamant that a return couldn’t happen because her character had died.

She said, “It’s just too long now — apart from the fact that I’m dead.” If I were to go back to EastEnders, that would be it.

“I still haven’t shaken Cindy after all these years. I’m not saying it’s bad, but it’s always been there and I’ve done a lot of other work over the years.’

Big return: Michelle will reportedly be returning to the screens alongside her on-screen husband Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt (pictured last month)

Adam made a shock return to EastEnders in December for the first time since leaving the soap in 2021 in a surprise scene during Dot Branning’s funeral episode.

After the death of actress June Brown last April at the age of 95, Ian appeared on the edge of the graveyard to make sure his former neighbors didn’t see him.

He broke into tears and said, “Goodbye, Dot,” as he watched, before calling anyone, he shouted “love” and said he was on his way to “home.”

EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw admitted that Adam agreed to the brief return because he “wanted to be there” for his late co-star June.

He said at the time, ‘I called Adam, told him our plans, and I said, ‘Ian has to be there,’ and he agreed. It was that simple. Ian wouldn’t miss it.

“Obviously he didn’t make it to the church, but he said goodbye to Dot on his own.

A quiet farewell: EastEnders heavyweight Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) returned to Walford in December after his 2021 departure to pay tribute to the late Dot Branning

Soap legend: June Brown, who died at her home in April at age 95, played chain-smoking laundromat assistant Dot Cotton, later Branning, for over 30 years

“So yeah, that’s how it happened. It was just that Adam wanted to be there for June and he knew Ian should be there for Dot.’

Adam, who played Ian Beale in EastEnders from 1985 to 2021, took part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2021.

He’s also been tipped to star in 2:22 A Ghost Story, after being endorsed by his former EastEnders co-star Jake Wood.

The actor would like to play a role in the West End play, which Cheryl recently starred in.

Jake is currently starring at The Lyric Theater playing Ben in the supernatural show, while Adam wows audiences in the My Fair Lady revival.

A source told it Mirror: ‘Adam is really looking forward to another play.

“He loved hitting the shelves with My Fair Lady, which ends in April, and 2:22 Ghost Story is a potential match.”

Earlier this year, Jake supported Adam to appear on the show, revealing that he would be “fantastic” as a cast member.

According to The sun, he said: ‘Ian would be fantastic in 2:22. He’s told me he’d be happy to do it and hopefully he’ll get his turn.

‘It’s so much fun to do. It’s quite a remarkable piece – probably the best I’ve ever read or acted in.

“The fact that they can reinvent it with new cast means people come back again and again.”