BBC EastEnders star Michelle Collins reveals real reason Cindy Beale returned – and it’s not George

Michelle Collins admitted it was a ‘big decision’ for her to go back to EastEnders.

The BBC soap star shocked EastEnders fans when she turned up in France with Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt, 25 years after she was killed off. Cindy’s returned caused chaos last year when it was revealed she was also Rose Knight – George Knight’s long-lost wife and mother to Gina and Anna Knight.

Michelle told Lorraine Kelly on Thursday she thought she’d “never, ever go back” to the soap after her character died in prison in 1998. ”It was a big decision for me to go back, but where are those roles for older women and where is that visibility for women of a certain age? We’ve still got a lot more to give as women and as an actor. I’m having some great storylines,” she said.

The actress went on to say there have been “huge changes” since she last worked on the show in the 90s: “I was in my early 30s and now I’m 61. I’m a very different person these days. There are only four original cast members left. There are some people, crew that are still there and it’s lovely.”

She added: “It’s changed, huge cast, 56, when I was there there was 25. We do four a week whereas in those days it was two a week. There are still some people I haven’t done any scenes with.”

Michelle went on to say her husband Mike Davidson was another deciding factor when approached by the BBC soap to return. The actress revealed she gets to spend a lot more time with her husband despite her busy work schedule.

“EastEnders is not far from my home now, so I’m home a lot more. If I was touring or filming away… he’s very understanding,” she added. Surprisingly, Michelle explained she had no idea she had been killed off after her character had been imprisoned.

“She [Cindy] died off screen. I was sunning myself filming Sunburn and I think it was Barbara Windsor that told me she’d been to the funeral and I was like, ‘Cindy’s funeral? I didn’t even know she’d died!” Michelle said. On Cindy’s current storyline, Michelle revealed: “She’s tried to mend the relationships with her daughters and there’s obviously a lot to deal with.

“She hasn’t seen her children in eight years. She’s also got another child living in Germany. I can’t keep track of all these children! I do call it the Von Trapp family. It’s nice because I’ve got two camps. I’ve got Peter and Clay who’s my stepson and then I’ve got Gina and Anna and George and Ian, so I’ve got the best of both worlds.”