Her character Cindy Beale’s return from the dead after 26 years was finally confirmed on Wednesday.
And EastEnders actress Michelle Collins, 61, beamed as she reunited with her on-screen ex-husband Adam Woodyatt, 54, in London just hours before the shocking scenes aired.
In the closing seconds of the episode, mysterious character Rose Knight’s true identity was revealed to be non-other than the notorious Cindy.
And Michelle and Adam, who will appear on screen together once more, appeared delighted to be back in each others company as they chatted outside a hotel before sharing a hug.
Michelle, who was also joined by husband Michael Davidson, 39, cut a chic figure in a plunging black blazer.
Reunited: EastEnders’ Michelle Collins embraced on-screen husband Adam Woodyatt after her return as Cindy Beale was confirmed in SHOCKING twist in London on Wednesday
Shocking stuff: In the closing seconds of the episode, mysterious character Rose Knight’s true identity was revealed to be non-other than the notorious Cindy
Sporting a radiant palette of make-up she wore her blonde tresses in loose curls and carried a plush Birkin style bag.
She completed the look with a pair of oversized glassed and a selection of funky silver jewellery.
Meanwhile Adam, who will return to the soap as her long suffering former spouse Ian Beale after a two year break, cut a casual figure in a black Fred Perry polo shirt which he teamed with grey trousers.
Speaking following Cindy’s reveal he said: ‘No offence but working with Michelle has been like putting on an old pair of slippers. It’s comfortable. It just works.’
He then went on to give an insight in his own return to the show: ‘The weirdest thing for me that since I’ve been gone they’ve rebuilt the lot. I got out of the car yesterday morning and gone “where’s the Square?” It’s just disappeared’.
‘But the nicest thing is just going back to see all the faces. The first day in ‘France’ it must have taken half a day to say hello to everyone’.
Before adding: ‘I’m amazed we got anything filmed that first morning because I was just chatting’.
It comes after Michelle has admitted she originally thought bringing back her character Cindy was a ‘ridiculous idea’.
Back together: Michelle and Adam appeared delighted to be back in each others company as they chatted outside a hotel before sharing a hug hours before the scenes aired (L-R) Michelle, Adam, Michelle’s husband Michael Davidson
Chic: Michelle cut a chic figure in a plunging black blazer and appeared in high spirits
Low key: Meanwhile Adam, who will return to the soap as Ian Beale after a two year break, cut a casual figure in a black Fred Perry polo shirt which he teamed with grey trousers
Drama: Cindy is set to reunite with her long-suffering ex-husband Ian upon her epic return to the soap opera
She admitted she was initially apprehensive about returning to EastEnders because she thought bringing Cindy back to the show sounded ‘ridiculous’, after the character died off screen during childbirth.
Though fans are eagerly awaiting to see how Cindy’s return will play out, Michelle told The Sun of the mystery plot: ‘I said to my agent, ‘Oh, this is ridiculous, it’s never going to happen’.
‘But we had this breakfast meeting and [executive producer Chris Clenshaw] got his laptop out and reeled it all off, we both went, ‘Wow, oh my God’, and then I was like, maybe this could work.’
Though she didn’t reveal exactly where Cindy has been for 26 years, Michelle praised the upcoming plot as ‘genius’ as she hinted at her character’s new backstory.
Though she admitted she doesn’t know whether she has made the right decision in returning to the soap, she said that for the time being, she is absolutely loving it.
‘It feels like I’ve come full circle,’ she added.
Pals: Adam (centre) gave Michelle’s new husband Michael (right) a big hug before he departed
Glam: Sporting a radiant palette of make-up she wore her blonde tresses in loose curls and carried a plush Birkin style bag
Style: She completed the look with a pair of oversized glassed and a selection of funky silver jewellery
Fun times: Michelle joked around with a member of the swanky hotel’s staff
Speaking about why she decided to return to the show, after first appearing back in 1988, Michelle said it was about ‘timing’, confessing she would have said no if asked any earlier.
She said: ‘It’s about timing, life is about timing, and it wasn’t the right time. I think if it had happened five years ago I probably would have said no.’
Michelle admitted she is both excited and scared about her return to EastEnders, telling how she found it very difficult to keep her comeback a secret.
Show bosses went to huge lengths to keep her return a secret and Michelle told how she had to lie when asked if she would ever appear on the soap opera again.
Not too sure: It comes after Michelle has admitted she originally thought bringing back her character Cindy was a ‘ridiculous idea’
Exciting: Though she didn’t reveal exactly where Cindy has been for 26 years, Michelle praised the upcoming plot as ‘genius’ as she hinted at her character’s new backstory
Cover up: Cindy supposedly died while serving time in prison for hiring a hitman to kill Ian (both pictured in 1989), but it appears she has been living a double life
Sharing how her stint on EastEnders has been different this time around, Michelle told how she would always argue with her on-screen ex-husband Adam.
She told how they have both ‘mellowed’ over the years and no longer ‘bizarrely’ squabble in between takes and in their dressing rooms like they used to.
EastEnders fans were left gobsmacked when Cindy made her grand reveal during Wednesday’s episode as Rose Knight’s identity was finally revealed.
Age defying: Michelle looked gorgeous as she sported a youthful complexion
Bye! She said goodbye to the hotel staff before heading off
She’s back! The massive twist saw the Queen Vic landlord George Knight ( Colin Salmon ) attempt to call his ex-wife ‘Rose’ after Phil Mitchell discovered she wasn’t who she claimed to be
The massive twist saw the Queen Vic landlord George Knight (Colin Salmon) attempt to call his ex-wife ‘Rose’ after Phil Mitchell discovered she wasn’t who she claimed to be.
In a tense moment, George stood in the Queen Vic as Seal’s Kiss From A Rose played on the pub’s jukebox, before the scene dramatically flashed to a sun lounger in Spain.
A mysterious hand could be seen rejecting the call before picking up a glass of wine, with the shot then flashing to show Cindy’s face, confirming weeks of suspicion over Rose’s real identity.
Gobsmacked: EastEnders fans were left gobsmacked when Cindy made her grand reveal during Wednesday’s episode as Rose Knight’s identity was finally revealed
Shock: In the closing moments of the episode, Cindy could be seen relaxing on a sun lounger and drinking a glass of wine in Spain, 26 years after she was believed to have died in childbirth
Family: The bombshell reveal will no doubt cause a stir for her husband George and his two daughters Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry)
The huge reveal comes 26 years after Cindy was believed to have died in childbirth after plotting to kill her then-husband.
Fans were left completely stunned by the revelation, and took to Twitter to share their shock over Cindy’s unexpected return.
One fan wrote: ‘I don’t watch eastEnders much anymore but I literally just screamed at the TV, she’s back!’
Another wrote: ‘That was AN ICONIC DUFF DUFF!!!,’ while a third said: ‘OMG it’s Cindy Beale.’
And a fourth commented: ‘Yesssss I am screaming!,’ and another added: ‘WHAAAAT!!!! I’m so shocked!!! So glad Cindy is back!! Eeeeek.’
EastEnders airs the truth about George’s past on Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
