Why was Cindy Beale in witness protection in EastEnders?
CINDY Beale left Albert Square residents reeling when she resurfaced despite claims she was dead.
The EastEnders favourite played by Michelle Collins was revealed to be alive as part of a witness protection twist. Get the lowdown.
Why was EastEnders’ Cindy Beale in witness protection?
After her son Peter (portrayed by Thomas Law) was lured back into Walford following the announcement that Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) was selling off the family chippy, Cindy decided to rock up the Square.
Upon her arrival, she visited her daughter Lucy’s grave in a tearful scene alongside Peter before becoming reacquainted with life in the borough.
During last night’s (Tuesday, August 29, 2023) instalment of the BBC One soap, Cindy came face to face with her former husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) as she helped Kathy carry a tray of food to The Vic pub.
Unbeknownst to her, her daughter Anna (Molly Rainford) was celebrating her 21st birthday at the same moment.
In an explosive episode, Cindy told George everything he needed to know about her – including her real identity.
She revealed to him that she had taken up the alias Rose Sawyer to protect herself after being thrown into the witness protection scheme.
When George demanded to know why, Cindy explained she had entered the program after a plea bargain.
Cindy had made a deal in prison to give information against her inmate Jackie Ford to avoid a sentence for conspiring to kill her other ex-husband Ian Beale.
Unfortunately, this put her at risk as Jackie Ford was hellbent on revenge and Cindy Beale was “killed off” to make room for Rose Sawyer who eventually became Rose Knight.
Flashback scenes aired on Tuesday also showed an insight on Cindy’s life away from the Square – which included a secret return to her home following her daughter Lucy’s shock death.
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What happened to Cindy Beale in EastEnders?
Regular viewers of the London-based show will recall that, as mentioned above, Cindy was sent to prison after being accused of conspiring to kill her ex-husband Ian Beale.
In October, 1996, Cindy had hired a hitman called John Valecue to kill Ian but the businessman survived.
Cindy was pregnant with Nick Holland’s baby at the time of her incarceration and on November 5, 1998, Ian learned that she had supposedly died in childbirth.
While Ian was able to meet Cindy Williams Jr. – with whom he has a very strained relationship – his former wife took on a new name and started a new life in Marbella, Spain.
She shared a luxurious home with George Knight and the couple eventually welcomed their daughters, Anna and Gina.
However, unable to share who she really was with her new family, Cindy turned to alcohol in an attempt to cope with the pressure of living trapped in secrecy.
In April, 2014, things came to a head when she received a call from DCI Mary Nicholls who broke the news of her daughter Lucy’s death.
Fuelled by grief and alcohol, Cindy left Marbella, George and their daughters behind to go to Walford, although she vowed to return ahead of Easter.
Once she arrived in Albert Square, unbeknownst to anybody, Cindy spotted a grief-stricken Ian outside his home before she was called out by Mary Nicholls.
While she was adamant on making her way back to Spain, Mary made it clear to Cindy this was impossible – her secret return to Walford had compromised her and her family’s security.
Terrified Jackie Ford may find her and harm her loved ones, Cindy went on the run again before eventually ending up in Jouars, France, where she reconnected with Ian.
During a tense reunion with Kathy Beale, Cindy explained the pair had bumped into one another more than a year ago and they were then able to tell their son Peter the truth months later.
Earlier this year, DCI Mary Nicholls approached the family with the news that Jackie Ford had died, announcing the end of Cindy’s witness protection scheme.
This meant she was no longer obliged to use the fake name Rose and was free to roam wherever she pleased.
What’s in store for her after her sudden reappearance in the Square?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.