EastEnders legend won’t be in live 40th anniversary episode despite huge storyline moments before Queen Vic explosion
AN EastEnders legend central to the show's 40th anniversary week won't be taking part in the programme's epic live episode.
Despite being the flagship face of the soap and being positioned front and centre of the BBC programme's promotional material, Michelle Collins will not be taking part in next Thursday's rare live broadcast.
Her character Cindy Beale will be nowhere to be seen despite the reveal of Who Attacked Cindy Beale set to take place.
All of next week's episodes are understood to take place over the course of one day which makes Cindy's absence from Thursday's live episode even more eyebrow-raising.
Actress Michelle confirmed herself that she would not be filming live on the night but did not add the reasons as to why.
Speaking at the TV Choice Awards on Tuesday night, she told: "I’m actually not going to be in the live. I am allowed to say that.
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"It’s quite complicated but I am in the lead-up to the live. I actually think it’s very well done."
In scenes set to be broadcast on Monday evening, Cindy will be seen coming face-to-face with who she believes is her attacker.
Cindy will accuse the individual in front of stunned guests at Billy and Honey's wedding party in The Vic.
Later, events will take a dangerous turn when Cindy points a gun at the person and threatens them with their life.
As the situation continues to unfold, an unexpected twist will flip the situation on its head.
This is then understood set to trigger a motion of events which lead to the devastating Queen Vic fire.
But with Michelle avoiding the live episode, does this mean the fate of Cindy is sealed before the explosion commences.
Speaking about how her co-stars have prepped for the live episode, she admitted that some of them will be left "terrified".
She told Metro: "I’ve done a lot of theatre but I don’t think it really matters.
"Live TV is very different to live theatre, so I think there’s going to be quite a few very terrified actors."