CINDY Beale is pushed to the edge as she’s blackmailed over her affair, leading to some explosive consequences next week in EastEnders.
Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) life just got messier after an incriminating tape of her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) fell into the wrong hands.
Cindy devises a shocking plan that leaves her family in disbelief[/caption]
She scrambles to keep her secret affair under wraps[/caption]
But has she done enough to outsmart her blackmailer?[/caption]
With the truth on the brink of exposure, Cindy scrambles to keep her secrets under wraps – but has she done enough to outsmart her blackmailer?
Meanwhile, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) continue to argue at No.45.
But things continue to sour between the pair as they continue to argue about recent events.
And Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) tries to talk to Cindy about Lauren, before the Beale family sit down to a family meal.
On Christmas Eve, fearing for her future, Cindy devises a shocking plan that leaves her family in disbelief.
Hoping to gather his entire family on Christmas Day, George Knight (Colin Salmon) extends an invitation for Cindy and the Beales to join them at The Vic for Christmas dinner.
But as the festive day unfolds, Cindy’s world is rocked once more when she receives another piece of damning information.
Elsewhere, Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and the other market traders get a shock when the wrong calendar arrives.
Yolande (Angela Wynter) continues to shut out Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) and Denise Fox (Diane Parish).
But then she feels guilty when Patrick points out that she forgot it’s the anniversary of his son’s, Paul’s death.
Later, the residents of Walford gather in the Square for the choir service.
Meanwhile, Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) is jealous of Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) and Sharon Watts’ (Letitia Dean) cosy display.
And Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) continues to shut out the world at No.55.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Best soap affair love triangles
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.
