Michelle Collins is reportedly returning to EastEnders 25 years after her character was killed off.
The 60-year-old actress starred as Cindy Beale in the BBC soap from 1988 to 1998 and is reportedly set to return to the screens.
She will reportedly be joined by her on-screen husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who is also returning to the soap after a two-year break.
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.
Back with a bang: Michelle Collins, 60, returns to EastEnders 25 years after her character was killed off (Michelle pictured in 1989 as her character 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)
“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.”
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.”