Cindy back? It's genius.... but then l've never got rid of her

It's more than 25 years since EastEnders fans watched in horror as Cindy Beale hired a hitman to bump off her hapless husband Ian. But now she's back from the dead - and Ian is by her side.

- NICOLA METHVEN

Last night, viewers saw Michelle Collins burst on to the screen for the first time since 1998, when she was carted off to prison for attempted murder.

Not only is Cindy back, but she's also been revealed as "Rose" - the absent wife of new Queen Vic manager George Knight, played by Colin Salmon.

Michelle, 61, filmed her first scenes on location abroad, but she's now stepped back on the set and into Albert Square.

"It's surreal," she laughs. "It's nerve-wracking but it's also very exciting.

Adam Woodyatt, 54, is also returning as Ian after three years away.

Michelle admits that, despite having never fully shed the role of Cindy, she never truly believed the character could be written back in - until dynamic soap boss Chris Clenshaw had other ideas.

"Do you know what, I didn't think they could ever do it," she confesses on the eve of her comeback. "Life is about timing. If it had happened five years ago, I probably would've said no.

"Adam and I were both touring and he'd mentioned it to me.

"I said to my agent, obviously it's ridiculous, but let's just go and meet Chris'.

"And we had this breakfast meeting and he got his laptop out and he reeled it off and we both went, 'wow'. Oh my God. It was incredible. And I was just like, actually, maybe this could work."

Cindy was said to have died off-screen, in jail, while giving birth to her fourth child Cindy Jr. But not only is she alive, she's got a secret second family thanks to a 15-year relationship with George.

She is living a luxurious lifestyle in the French countryside. Tonight, viewers will discover that Ian is there too - and there's a whole lot more detail to unravel.