A PANICKED Cindy Beale went to desperate lengths to keep her secret affair hidden in EastEnders.
Cindy’s (Michelle Collins) affair with her stepson Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) turned deadly when Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) ended up in the hospital after spotting the pair together last week.
A struggle between Cindy and Kojo left him in a coma after he fell from a high balcony.
Cindy stayed on edge, fearing what Kojo might remember when he eventually woke up from his coma.
Tonight’s episode saw Cindy receive the dreaded news: Kojo is being woken from his coma, leaving her terrified about what he might reveal.
Cindy went to confront a vulnerable Kojo in hospital, while the family weren’t around, to see what he remembered before his fall and if he will tell his brother George Knight (Colin Salmon).
Cindy asked Kojo: “Do you remember our little conversation on the stairs before you tripped up?”
When Kojo nodded, Cindy continued: “Can we just keep that our little secret, yeah? Because you know what will happen if anyone finds out don’t you?
“It will destroy George’s family, and George will do anything to protect his family. And you wouldn’t want to be the one to ruin that, would you?
“Because he might send you back to live with your brother. And you’ve adjusted so well, slotted in. And the girls would really miss you.
“But don’t worry, because you’re going to do what your told aren’t you?”
Will Cindy’s threats keep Kojo quiet?
Meanwhile, to make matters worse, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) witnessed the confrontation and threatened to uncover what Cindy was so desperate to hide in EastEnders.
But a ruthless Cindy exploited Lauren’s secret painkiller addiction, using it as leverage to neutralise her threat and protect her own secrets.
Upcoming spoilers have teased that Cindy and Junior’s affair will be revealed on Christmas Day.
Viewers will remember that bird recorder Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) inadvertently caught Cindy on tape confessing to former lover and Ian’s half-brother David Wicks (Michael French) that she had been sleeping with Junior but was also still in love with his dad George – despite being engaged to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).
LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic?
EASTENDERS
Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning’s dad Max in 2007.
Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year.
Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell.
Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler – not realising it was caught on tape – and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic.
Syed/Amira/Christian: Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day.
A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira.
CORONATION STREET
Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street – extending it to bigamy.
He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon.
But it didn’t stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him.
Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband’s nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later.
When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled.
Maria/Aidan/Eva: In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price’s best friend, Maria Connor.
Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day.
But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy.
EMMERDALE
Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale.
She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride’s betrayal via a recording played at the wedding.
Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well – until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle.
Robert’s ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair – but fell to her death before she had the chance.
However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair – after which she announced it to the whole pub.
The tape will be played on Christmas Day and all hell will break loose among the Beale and Knight families.
And soon fury and accusations will be dispensed in every direction.
Will the families be changed forever?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
