EastEnders star Michelle Collins has called for a missing Beale character to return to the forefront of the BBC soap after a decade.
The Beale clan has been at the centre of some major storylines over the last few years, with Collins’ Cindy especially bringing a lot of the drama.
However, Cindy’s daughter Cindy Jr has been absent from Albert Square since 2015, only receiving a few mentions in-universe across the years.
But now Collins has called for the character to return, issuing a plea for Sex Education star Mimi Keene to reprise the role.
“I have never met Cindy Jr so it would be quite nice if she came back,” she told The Mirror.
“She’s probably too busy, but maybe she can fit us in for a week!”
BBC
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Cindy Jr left the Square with her partner Liam Butcher following the shock death of Lucy Beale. In recent years, it has been mentioned that the couple split and Cindy Jr has been travelling on her own.
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Speaking of being busy, Cindy will be off our screens for a bit later this year, as Collins is taking some time out to appear in a one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Inspired by a real-life encounter she had, the one-hour dark comedy Motorhome Marilyn will see Collins play a struggling actor named Denise who is obsessed with Marilyn Monroe.
BBC
“It’s about failure, lost dreams, and feeling like life has passed you by. She’s an interesting character. I’m really excited to play it,” she said.
“EastEnders have let me have a month off so I’m very excited,” she added.
The show will run from 30 July to 25 August, and tickets can be purchased now.
“The Missing Beale” — Michelle Collins Sparks Fan Frenzy Over Cindy Jr’s Return to EastEnders
It’s the comeback fans didn’t see coming — but one that could explode the Beale family drama all over again.
EastEnders legend Michelle Collins — better known to fans as the ever-iconic Cindy Beale — has publicly called for the return of her on-screen daughter Cindy Jr, a character who’s been missing from Albert Square for nearly a decade.
And now, with Cindy Sr. preparing for a brief departure from the soap this summer, fans are asking: Could a Cindy Jr return be on the cards?
👀 “I’ve Never Met Her…”
Speaking to The Mirror, Collins revealed a surprising fact — she’s never shared a scene with the character playing her on-screen daughter, last portrayed by Mimi Keene (now best known for Sex Education).
“I have never met Cindy Jr, so it would be quite nice if she came back,” Collins said with a grin.
“She’s probably too busy, but maybe she can fit us in for a week!”
That throwaway comment has ignited a storm among EastEnders fans who’ve long speculated about the fate of Cindy Jr., a once-fiery teen who vanished from the Square in 2015.
🚶♀️Where Did Cindy Jr Go?
Cindy Jr. left Walford alongside Liam Butcher following the devastating death of Lucy Beale. Since then, viewers have only heard fleeting mentions of her — the last update suggesting the couple had split and she’d gone travelling solo.
But with Cindy Beale’s return rewriting EastEnders history in recent months, fans are eager for the next big twist: a reunion between mother and daughter, who haven’t been on-screen together since Cindy’s resurrection.
🎭 Cindy’s Off-Screen Exit: The Perfect Opening?
Michelle Collins is set to step away from EastEnders for a month to perform her one-woman show Motorhome Marilyn at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 30 July to 25 August.
The dark comedy sees Collins play Denise — a struggling actress obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. Speaking of the show, she said:
“It’s about failure, lost dreams, and feeling like life has passed you by. I’m really excited to play it.”
Her break from Walford could mark the perfect window for a dramatic Cindy Jr return — especially if secrets are left untied in Cindy Sr’s absence.
🔥 Fan Theories Erupt
Social media lit up following Collins’ remarks:
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“Cindy Jr back just as Cindy Sr leaves? Plot twist potential: unlimited.”
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“If Mimi Keene returns even for a short stint, that would be ratings gold.”
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“Cindy Jr returning could blow open the Beale family secrets again.”
With Ian, Peter, Bobby, and now Cindy Sr all tangled in the Beale web, Cindy Jr’s reappearance could detonate dormant drama — especially if she’s been hiding secrets of her own.
🔮 Is Mimi Keene Too Busy?
While Collins jokingly noted that Mimi Keene may be “too busy,” her recent commitments after Sex Education have left her schedule somewhat open. Whether Keene herself would return remains uncertain, but a recast isn’t out of the question if EastEnders decides to reignite the Beale saga with full force.
🧨 “She’s a Beale. She Belongs in the Square.”
Cindy Jr’s return could be more than just a nostalgia play — it could represent a new generation of Beale chaos. With Cindy Sr’s exit looming, Walford may soon need a new Beale to stir the pot — and reclaim the family legacy.
Could Cindy Jr’s surprise reappearance shake the Square again?