EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: Cindy Beale's Past To Catch Up With Her?

It's less than a month until EastEnders celebrates the show's 40th birthday with a special week of episodes.
As well as a live episode - in which EastEnders fans will be able to vote for whether Denise Fox (Diane Parish) reunites with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), or her lover Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) - fans will find out who left Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) for dead on Christmas Day.
Just like an EastEnders episode, there have been plenty of twists and turns on betting sites in the past three weeks - but there's a new favourite in Albert Square.
Is Cindy's Slayer A Blast From The Past?
Cindy's daughter Cindy Williams, also known as Cindy Jr, has been near the top of the market since a mystery person struck on Christmas Day.
Cindy Jr - who was played by Sex Education actress Mimi Keene from 2013 to 2015 - is now the new 6/4 favourite, following a hint that the attacker could be someone from Cindy's past.
Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) had been a short price to be the mystery aggressor, but she has drifted to 10/1 after she was in Cindy's company when a brick came flying through her window.
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An accompanying note read: "You should have stayed dead! Now I’m coming for you."
It left Cindy - who has made a full recovery since she was whacked over the head with a shovel - spooked, but also means Lauren appears to be off the hook.
The development also hints at the assailant potentially being someone from Cindy's past.
This would put Cindy Jr in the frame, but the "you should've stayed dead" part of the message could be a nod to Cindy Sr coming back from the dead in 2023.
Eastenders Odds: Who Left Cindy Beale For Dead?
Suspect | Odds | Probability |
Cindy Jr | 6/4 | 40% |
Elaine Knight | 13/8 | 38.1% |
New Character | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Jackie Ford | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Gina Knight | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Ian Beale | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Junior Knight | 3/1 | 25% |
Peter Beale | 7/2 | 22.2% |
George Knight | 4/1 | 20% |
Anna Knight | 6/1 | 14.3% |
After viewers assumed she had been killed in prison in 1998, it was revealed two years ago that Cindy had been in witness protection for 25 years after she informed on her cellmate Jackie Ford.
While Jackie and her known associates have since passed on, which is why Cindy came out of witness protection, could a new character (7/4) to do with Jackie be the one who struck Cindy on Christmas Day?
Or did Jackie (15/8) also fake her own death, and wait until Christmas Day 2024 to wreak revenge on Cindy?
It sounds far-fetched - but this is Soapland, don't forget.
Meanwhile, the Knight family believe Ian Beale, who is now into 5/2, could be behind the attack, but Cindy's son Peter Beale's price has also been cut, to 7/2.
It comes after Peter - played by Thomas Law - was seen burning some key evidence moments after Cindy was bludgeoned on Christmas Day, following Lauren dramatically exposing Cindy's affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) in the Queen Vic.
Is Max Back?
If the Cindy whodunnit wasn't enough to be excited about ahead of the 40th anniversary, Jake Wood could be set to make a comeback as Max Branning.
Jake was last seen as Max in February 2021 - after playing the character since 2006 - but the Albert Square legend could be revisiting Walford soon.
Jake is into 1/2 favourite on betting apps, from 2/1, to return for the 40th anniversary after he reunited with his on-screen brother Scott Maslen, who plays Jack Branning, for a night out recently.
Scott wrote on Instagram: "He ain’t heavy he’s my brother!"
Afterwards, some fans speculated that Jake could be making a return, and others begged him to reprise his role.
What's more, if Cindy Jr turns out to be her mum's attacker, then Mimi Keene (8/15) could return as the character unless she is recast.
It's already known Ross Kemp is returning to Walford, and it's just 4/6 that Nigel Bates' partner Julie Haye, who is played by Karen Henthorn, makes an Albert Square comeback, too.
Which Actors Will Return For EastEnders' 40th Anniversary Odds
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Jake Wood | 1/2 | 66.7% |
Mimi Keene | 8/15 | 65.2% |
Karen Henthorn | 4/6 | 60% |
Joe Swash | 4/5 | 55.6% |
Pam St Clement | Evens | 50% |
Sue Tully | 6/4 | 40% |
Danny Dyer | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Michelle Ryan | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Dean Gaffney | 3/1 | 25% |
Linda Henry | 4/1 | 20% |
Jack's Double Delight
It could be double delight for Jack during the anniversary week - as it's 4/6 that viewers decide Denise should rebuff Ravi and return to the police officer.
EastEnders Odds: Who Will Viewers Decide To Reunite Denise Fox With
Character | Odds |
Jack Branning | 4/6 |
Ravi Gulati | 6/4 |
While Jack recently did the dirty on her, and Denise has done the same, there's every chance EastEnders fans will want the long-term pair to get back together rather than have her shack up with Ravi.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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