EastEnders viewers are speculating that Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) is heading towards a sorrowful conclusion as her family continues to shun her.

The Walford legend made a surprise return last week, showing up uninvited at her son Peter’s (Thomas Law) engagement party to Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), only to be met with a cold reception from her kin.

Lauren immediately demanded Cindy leave Harry’s Barn, presenting Peter with a shocking ultimatum: choose between his mother or his fiancée.

In an attempt to win back her family’s favour after her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) and supplying pills to pregnant Lauren, Cindy disclosed that it was Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) who had hit her with a snow shovel on Christmas Day.

George and Elaine Knight (Colin Salmon and Harriet Thorpe) were horrified that Kathy had allowed their family to be blamed for the assault and threatened to involve the police, reports Plymouth Live.

However, another revelation came when Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) exposed that Cindy had shot him and then tried to frame him for the car crash into The Queen Vic pub.

As regular viewers of the BBC One soap will recall, Reiss Colwell’s (Jonny Freeman) car crashed into the pub, triggering a devastating explosion that claimed the life of Martin Fowler (James Bye).

After a dramatic evening, Cindy stormed off into the night, clutching a bottle of champagne, ready for another confrontation with her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Lauren.

Upon her arrival, Lauren was already in labour, with her waters broken. In an unexpected twist, Cindy found herself as Lauren’s impromptu birthing partner, a scenario that was far from ideal for both.

Cindy harboured hopes that this shared experience would mend their fractured relationship, but Peter renounced her after the birth of his son, Jimmy Beale.

Subsequently, Cindy made her way to Ian and Kathy’s with an ultimatum: relinquish control of the businesses or she’d spill the beans to the police about the holiday season’s events.

As Cindy faces the cold shoulder from her family, some EastEnders fans speculate that her mental health may deteriorate to a breaking point.

A concerned viewer took to Facebook to pose the question: “Does anyone think Cindy will take her own life?”.

Responses varied, with one person succinctly commenting: “Oh”, and another agreeing: “Yes yes.”

One fan speculated: “Not really, but anything is possible in soapland.”

Another viewer predicted a darker turn: “Nope. But I do think someone is going to bump her off though. For real this time”, hinting at a potential plot twist where Cindy might meet her end at the hands of another character.