EastEnders is gearing up for an explosive Christmas Day – but viewers are certain the soap will be bidding farewell to a soap icon in a shock murder twist

EastEnders fans are certain a soap legend is leaving on Christmas Day – but in a body bag.

Walford bad girl Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) made her epic return to Walford last year, after 25 years. Cindy was killed off in 1998, when she apparently died during childbirth.

However, it turned out Cindy didn’t actually die and was put into witness protection. And last summer, she made her comeback to Walford alongside Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).

To make things even more awkward, Cindy’s secret family, The Knights, also arrived at the square just weeks before. And while things for the Beale-Knight clan were tense at first, the dust appeared to have settled for now.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

However, in a shock twist, Cindy has struck up an affair with her ex-husband George Knight’s (Colin Salmon), son, Junior (Micah Balfour) – who has fallen in love with her.

But what Cindy doesn’t know is that Freddie Slater’s (Bobby Brazier) recording device had previously inadvertently captured her declaring her affair with Junior. And in Thursday’s episode (December 19) on BBC iPlayer, Elaine Knight (Harriet Thorpe) ended up hearing the tape – leaving her gobsmacked.

What’s more, spoilers for Christmas Day in EastEnders confirm the truth comes out, as the recording of Cindy gets played in the Queen Vic. Now, fans are certain Cindy will be leaving Walford again following the shock affair reveal, as “there’s not much more bosses could do to the character”.

On a Reddit thread, one person said: “I wonder what they will do with Cindy’s character next year after the big reveal? Her kids on both sides are going to hate her, as are her ex-husband’s so she’ll have no one on the square to turn to. She has made zero friends and her side piece is her stepson, I don’t see them staying together.”

A second penned: “There’s not really much more you can do with her Character once the affair with Junior is revealed.” A third wrote: “She’ll have to either either disappear again or turn into a mega villain, just sticking around out of spite.”

Meanwhile other viewers fear Cindy could even get killed off. On X, one person said: “So, is Cindy being killed off at christmas or what?” Someone else added: “Possible theory. Cindy is killed on Christmas Day in a whodunnit and the culprit is revealed on 40th anniversary.” Another fumed: “I fully dont really want this. She has potential plus bringing her back from the dead just to kill her is stupid.”

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer