EastEnders narrows down Cindy suspects as attacker is ‘close to home’

Michael Adams

Published January 22, 2025 7:55pm

Elaine and George Knight chat behind the bar of the Queen Vic in EastEnders — George and Elaine think the attacker is close to home (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

The Knights have made a horrific discovery in EastEnders – Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) attacker is one of their own.

We’re all desperate to know who whacked Cindy over the head with a snow shovel at Christmas, but unfortunately we’ve got a little while longer to find out.

The big reveal won’t take place until the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations next month.

Until then, a number of key suspects have and will continue to be reeled off, allowing us to play armchair detective!

We know that they’re still out to get her – a brick containing a sinister note was launched in her direction last week – and some of her nearest and dearest have found themselves under the spotlight.

In last night’s episode, Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) became convinced that that Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) may have had more to do with the incident than he was letting on.

With Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) on hand to distract Ian, George headed over, where he revealed to Cindy that he suspected Ian was behind the attack.

He soon clicked onto the duping and headed home where an altercation broke out.

George, Gina and Elaine look tense in EastEnders — Gina was furious to be accused (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

George talks to Anna in the Queen Vic hallway in EastEnders — Anna came clean (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

George headed home and smashed a glass in frustration, only to find several patches of blood on the ground of the barrel store.

Elaine walked in, and the pair found the snow shovel.

But who had placed it there?

Tonight’s instalment saw them try and piece together how it had made its way to their home. Initially, they both suspected one another before giving some reassurance.

They also had the matter of discussing how it would be disposed.

George believed that it had to be a member of the family, as nobody else would have access to the area. Which, as we know, isn’t strictly true. The residents often meet up in the alleyway beside it to have secret conversations.

Agreeing that the focus should be on Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina, they called the latter into the hallway and asked her to clarify where she went on Christmas night.

She was furious to be accused of attacking her own mother, and assured them that she was visiting a friend that night.

Mortified, she later told Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) that her dad is trying to find out if there’s a murderer in the family. He proposed that they are ‘asking the wrong questions.’

Anna Knight looks angry in EastEnders — Maybe there’s more to her story than she’s letting on… (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Who is The Walford Walloper in EastEnders?

Was it one of the nine above - or somebody else? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Ahead of EastEnders' 40th Anniversary next month - which will see the reveal of Cindy Beale's attacker - Metro narrows down the key suspects in the case.

George Knight: Told his family that he was partaking in an illegal underground boxing match, but also later asked his brother Kojo to back up his alibi. Admitted to Gina that he wasn't at the fight.
Elaine Peacock: Enraged that Cindy still had eyes for her husband, she could've whacked her through jealousy.
Gina Knight: Was seen exiting the barrel store - where the weapon was hidden - on Christmas night. She also had a fling with Freddie Slater on the evening.
Anna Knight: Found the shovel in the barrel store and decided to hide it for fears of her family being implicated.
Kojo Asare: Was previously manipulated by Cindy, and promised George that he would make it up to him for hiding the affair.
Junior Knight: Planning to flee the area in the immediate aftermath, could he be furious that the affair hit a dead end and ruined his relationship with his father? He also stole the shovel from the Vic roof.
Ian Beale: Could've been responsible through an angry and jealous rage after the betrayal. He's also welcomed Cindy back into his home... possibly to cover his tracks?
Kathy Cotton: Lets face it, she's never been Cindy's biggest fan. She'd also do anything for golden boy Ian.
Lauren Branning: Admitted that she turned over Cindy's body in the immediate aftermath, but her memory of the night is hazy after taking illegal painkillers.
Peter Beale: Could've attacked his mum over the breakdown in his family, and putting his unborn baby at risk.
Somebody else?: Big Mo is clearly a Metro reader, as she supported our theory that Bobby Beale could be behind the vicious altercation - despite living in the Cotswolds.

When Anna returned to The Vic, suspiciously late for her shift, she clocked that George was bundling the shovel into the back of his car covered in tarpaulin.

Elaine walked inside and noticed her hunting for the weapon in the barrel store – she knew it was there!

After rushing upstairs, Anna admitted that she found the shovel herself and panicked, thinking that it must’ve been one of the Knights. Elaine then mentioned that she saw Gina walk out of the room shortly after the attack took place.

With George resolving that it really must be someone close to home, as the door was locked, everyone was stunned.