EastEnders airs violent showdown between Cindy and Kathy in early release | Radio Times

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The BBC One soap has seen Cindy drawn back to ex-husband George Knight (Colin Salmon) in recent weeks and recently the discovery of a kiss between them by his fiancée Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) caused drama in that relationship.

Elaine also told Cindy's partner and long-suffering ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) about the kiss and then informed George what she had done.

However, Ian carried on as normal and acted like nothing had happened before George informed Cindy that Ian knew what happened.

In Thursday's instalment, Cindy confronted a nonchalant Ian about the kiss and he asked her if that was all it was when she confirmed this was the case, he said he wanted to move on and it wasn't worth ending their relationship over. Cindy seemed somewhat disappointed that Ian did not fight with her more over the revelation.

Yet, when Ian was alone with his mother Kathy, he broke down and admitted what had happened but that he felt he would be alone without Cindy due to his age and health.

When Kathy reminded him that this was not a reason to stay in a relationship, he also admitted that Cindy reminds him of the couple's late daughter Lucy Beale and he is happy when with her.

Later, Cindy was on Bridge Street when she tried to speak with son Peter Beale (Thomas Law) - who she had annoyed through her treatment of Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) - before then trying to speak with daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna Knight (Molly Rainford).

Micah Balfour as Junior Knight watches from the background in a suit as Molly Rainford as Anna Knight and Francesca Henry as Gina Knight stand behind Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale as Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Cotton faces her on the street in EastEnders. — Cindy was with her daughters when confronted by Ian's mother Kathy in EastEnders. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

However, the conversation was interrupted as Kathy marched up to Cindy and proclaimed: "Once a slapper, always a slapper!"

Kathy then slapped Cindy across her left cheek and left the Knight girls gasping. Cindy raised her arm to hit her former mother-in-law back but Gina held her back.

Kathy continued: "Come on gents, form an orderly queue, it looks like she's open for business again!"

As Cindy suggested Kathy didn't understand the situation, Kathy noted it was about Cindy and George and while Cindy might have Ian under control, Kathy was not and called her a "gold-digging little tart with morals as loose as her underwear!"

As Anna jumped in to defend her mum, Kathy apologised to Anna and Gina but noted the misery that Cindy continues to cause everyone and she would do Ian a favour to pack her bags and leave. Kathy then walked off before the Knight girls also left Cindy disappointed in her actions.

Read More: EastEnders' Cindy Beale will turn very bad, teases Michelle Collins

Micah Balfour as Junior Knight standing in front of the cafe wearing a brown suit for EastEnders. — Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) stepped in to help Cindy. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

An amused Elaine was seen surveying the scene from upstairs in the Queen Bic and smiled when Cindy looked up and locked eyes with her.

When Cindy nursed her wound at Beale's Eels, she was approached by George's son Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) and as he quizzed her about the situation, he offered to help fix things with Gina and Anna.

At Peggy's later, Junior brokered a sitdown between the girls and their mother, but her similar excuses and lack of consideration for Elaine drove the girls away once more.

On the way home from the chip shop, Cindy spoke with Junior and thanked him for sticking up for her today and they shared a clear moment of sexual tension before Cindy returned home.

Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale eating from a bag of chips outside the back wall of the Beale house in EastEnders. — Cindy Beale has much left to ponder about the men in her life. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

Could Cindy be about to find a new affair entirely? Well, next week she makes a desperate play once more for George, will she succeed?

Meanwhile, for the other Beales today, Kathy finally got back to the cafe after dying Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) sold it back to her for £1, while Peter locked lips with Lauren after proclaiming his love for her.

Is this a fresh start for them both?

Read more:

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Lewis Knight

Lewis KnightTrends Editor, RadioTimes.com

Lewis Knight is the Trends Editor for Radio Times, covering trending titles from TV, Film and more. He previously worked at The Mirror in TV, Film, and Showbiz coverage alongside work on SEO. Alongside his past work in advertising, he possesses a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Film Studies.