Iconic EastEnders couple Cindy and Ian Beale to make incredible return to show as one of them comes back from the dead

EASTENDER Michelle ­Collins is returning as Cindy Beale — 25 years after being killed off.

The character is apparently rising from the dead and will be joining screen husband Ian Beale, played by Adam Wood­yatt — back after a two-year absence.

A source said: “It’s going to be a bombshell.”

Scheming Cindy — played by Michelle Collins — died off-screen 25 years ago during childbirth while in jail for attempted murder.

But she will be reunited with screen husband Ian, played by original cast member Adam Woodyatt.

Executives hope the sensational storyline will revive fortunes after a slump in viewing figures.

The pair have already started filming scenes and a source said: “This has been done so secretively but it’s going to be an absolute bombshell — an unbelievable twist.

“Ian and Cindy are one of the most memorable couples in soap history. But Cindy has been dead for 25 years — and nobody will see this coming.

“The biggest surprise is that Michelle has so often said there’s no chance she’d come back.”

Asked about a return in 2019, Michelle, 60, said: “It’s just too long now — apart from the fact I’m dead. If I went back to EastEnders, that would be it.

“I still haven’t shaken off Cindy after all these years.

“I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but it has always been there and I’ve done a lot of other work over the years.”

Michelle appeared in Coronation Street as pub landlady Stella Price from 2011-14, and in Casualty as events organiser Samantha Kellman in summer 2014.

She has also featured in Death in Paradise, Midsomer Murders, and The Dumping Ground.

Adam, 54, has been absent from EastEnders for nearly two and a half years.

He took an extended break in January 2021, returning only once — for Dot Cotton’s funeral last December following the death of actress June Brown, 95.

His break coincided with a difficult divorce from wife Beverley Sharp in late 2020.

Sources said Adam had been thrown into financial chaos by the vicious legal battle.

He left the marital home and started living in a campervan, travelling the country to perform in pantos and theatre shows, as well as appearing on I’m A Celebrity.

He was also pictured serving vegan food at festivals.

Adam grew a beard and appeared to put on weight.

But recent images appear to show him back to his more recognisable appearance and ready to revive his role.

Ian Beale appeared in the soap’s first episode in February 1985.

With Cindy he was at the heart of the soap’s biggest storylines in the 1980s and 1990s.

Cindy first appeared in 1988 and dated barman Simon Wicks (played by Nick Berry) before starting a relationship with Ian and marrying him in 1989.

The marriage soon hit trouble and she had a fling with Richard Cole (Ian Reddington), who claimed to be the father of her and Ian’s twins — Lucy and Peter.

Cindy also had an affair with Simon’s half-brother David Wicks (Michael French).

She was written out in a plot which saw her hire a hitman to kill Ian, then change her mind too late.

After Ian was shot and injured, she fled to Italy but was arrested for attempted murder and remanded in custody.

In November 1998 Ian was told Cindy had died while giving birth to a daughter, Cindy Williams.

Actress Rita Simons recently returned to EastEnders as Roxy Mitchell — who was killed off with sister Ronnie in 2017.

Roxy appeared as a vision during daughter Amy Mitchell’s therapy session.

Up to 30 million watched EastEnders at its peak in the 1980s.

Average audiences were consistently over 15 million.

But it has struggled against well-funded rival dramas and streaming services, with audience figures dwindling to around five million per episode.

BBC insists that figure is much higher if including viewers catching up via iPlayer.

Surprising soap comebacks

DIRTY DEN WATTS, EASTENDERS: Den fell into a canal after being shot by a hitman — with the gun ­hidden in a bunch of daffodils — in 1989.

But he survived and returned in 2003 having spent 14 years hiding out in Spain.

HAROLD BISHOP, NEIGHBOURS: Supposedly killed by a freak wave in 1991.

Reappeared five years later with memory loss and using the name Ted.

BOBBY EWING, DALLAS: Died at the end of the series in 1984 — but ratings plummeted so bosses brought him back a year later, with his death — and all the storylines that followed — being passed off as a dream.

KIM TATE, EMMERDALE: A body identified as Kim’s was found at the wheel of her car in 1997.

But Kim had fled to the ­Caribbean and returned three months later, telling hubby Frank that she had paid a lookalike prostitute to drive around the village in her car so people would think it was her.

She then watched shocked Frank die of a heart attack.