You'd be right for thinking that EastEnders is becoming like a less glamourous version of Bold and the Beautiful with the number of residents who are miraculously coming back from the dead. Over the years there have been Walford inhabitants who have faked their own deaths; been presumed dead, or been announced dead in a case of mistaken identity. But whether it's a couple of episodes or a couple of decades, they always turn up eventually!
Now it's the legendary Cindy Beale's turn to cause everyone on the Square to wonder if they've just seen a ghost. Though frankly we don't know what has stunned us more: Cindy's resurrection or her having rekindled her relationship with Ian - the husband she once tried to have gunned down!
In fact it was Ian's attempted murder that saw a pregnant Cindy Beale leave the Square after having been arrested. The last we'd heard of Cindy was back in 1998, when she'd died in prison while giving birth to her daughter who Ian named Cindy in honour of her late mum (though there were plenty who'd say that Cindy never had any honour!) And now that Cindy senior is heading back to Walford, perhaps it's only a matter of time before Cindy Junior returns to meet the mother and namesake she'd never known...
While everyone is applauding Chris Clenshaw from bringing Cindy back from the dead, many fans will remember that rumours have been abounding for years that Cindy would be returning as she wasn't really dead; she'd just gone into witness protection. Clenshaw clearly wanted to put an end to the rumours - and make Cindy's return happen for real. We just never thought Ian would be in tow! As it's been around twenty five years since Cindy Beale was last causing havoc on Albert Square, there's a whole new generation of fans who won't understand what all the fuss is about concerning Cindy's return. Well, they're about to find out why this character is so iconic. We're just glad that Michelle Collins, the actress who made Cindy Beale the Walford legend that she is, will be reprising the role once again because let's face it - who else could play Cindy so well? I think it's safe to say that everyone's learned from the Michelle Fowler debacle!
We take a look at other EastEnders' characters who were so good, they just had to be brought back from the dead...
1. Frank Butcher (Mike Reid, 2002)
EastEnders' first tested the waters of resurrecting former Walford residents with loveable rogue Frank Butcher who could very easily have been Alfie Moon's long-lost father (but that would be a whole other story!)
In 2002, Frank's devastated ex-wife Peggy received the news that Frank had died in a car crash in Spain, and decided to fly out there to attend his funeral. A strange decision considering their marriage ended due to Frank cheating on her with his former wife and true love of his life, Pat Evans.
But whereas with future 'deceased' characters where viewers had to wait years to see them brought back from the dead, they only had to wait a couple of episodes to see that not only was Mr. Butcher perfectly alive and well but he was also attending his own funeral. Typical Frank! Not only that but he was caught red-handed by a once grieving but now furious Peggy who demanded an explanation. Frank, along with his glamourous new girlfriend, Krystle, had faked his death following a property scam. But in the end it's the scammer who ends up getting scammed, as Krystle, played by the legendary Rula Lenska, leaves Frank in the lurch and runs off with all the money. Tough as nails she might be, but Peggy also has a heart of gold and helps Frank out by giving him some money. However one thing she refuses to give him is the chance to rekindle their relationship. Good on you, girl!
Sadly Mike Reid passed away in 2007 so Frank was written out the following year when the character died off-screen. In a tribute to Reid, Frank was given a very moving send-off where the actors clearly didn't have to get into character when it came to expressing their grief. And no doubt there were viewers at home who shed tears as well as they heard Frank's voice for the last time as the epsiode drew to a close.
2. Den Watts (Leslie Grantham, 2003)
The first of the mother of all returns from the grave - the resurrection of 'Dirty' Den Watts! Some of us did wonder if it would ever be possible to see Den back on the Square again. Even though a body had been found, we didn't actually see Den die so it was possible. But we still couldn't believe it when it was announced that actor Leslie Grantham would be returning almost fifteen years after leaving the soap to reprise the role of one of EastEnders' most legendary characters.
An original character, a true Walford legend, and the best landlord The Queen Vic ever had, Den Watts is most definitely an iconic EastEnder. Even viewers who were born long after the 'Den n' Ange' years are familiar with the name Den Watts. And so legendary was Mr. Watts that he got a great exit not once but twice! The first time was back in 1989 when the actor who played Den to perfection, the late Leslie Grantham, wanted to leave the show. And leave he did - via a pistol hidden among a bunch of daffodils! As the screen went black and a shot rang out followed by the sound of a splash, viewers were led to believe that all of Den's dodgy dealings had finally caught up with him and he had been assassinated by a member of the underworld, taking a tumble into the canal in the process. And when a decomposed body was dredged up from the canal, it was safe to assume that Den really was dead.
Only... he wasn't!
Years later EastEnders' fans rejoiced when they found out that Dirty Den was alive and well and living in Spain, and it wasn't long before he was back where he belonged in Walford. But unfortunately it wasn't to last long...
Exit two occurred when Den's second wife Chrissie, who he married while living in Spain, decided that she wasn't going to end up the same way as the first Mrs. Watts: devastated, dejected and drinking herself to death. So when Den pushed Chrissie too far, she enlisted the help of Zoe Slater and Sam Mitchell - two other women who Den had wronged - in order to exact revenge against Den. For Chrissie, revenge also meant destroying Den's relationship with his daughter, Sharon. That was all too much for Den and in a fit of rage, he flew at Chrissie in front of a terrified Sam and Zoe. But a bang on the head with a doggy doorstop put an end to Den's attack on Chrissie - and his life!
Fans were shocked that Den Watts was being written out of EastEnders a second time - especially as it hadn't been long since he returned. But what shocked viewers most was that Den's exit meant that he could never return. Surely he could have just gone on the run again, right? Sadly Grantham passed away back in 2017 which means that even if Den had sailed off into the sunset, he still couldn't return, as no one could play that role as well as he did. EastEnders' executive producer, Louise Berridge claimed that Den Watts was arguably the most iconic EastEnders' character. Lou, there's no argument about it!
3. Denise Fox (Diane Parish, 2011)
There really are some long-lost friends and relatives who should have stayed permanently long-lost - and Denise Fox's ex boyfriend and father of her daughter, Chelsea, Lucas Johnson is one of them! Initially Denise was furious when she discovered that Chelsea was back in contact with the father who had abandoned them, believing Lucas to be a wrong 'un. But Lucas had managed to turn his life around over the years. Gone was the irresponsible, untrustworthy drug addict, and in his place stood a man who had discovered God and become a preacher. He eventually won Denise over and the two reunited as a couple and went on to get married.
But Denise was right to be guarded where Lucas was concerned because unbeknownst to her, her new husband had become a serial killer soon after arriving in Walford, having claimed the lives of his estranged wife, Tina; Denise's ex-husband Owen, and even the family dog, Sugar, when Lucas feared that Sugar might dig up Trina's body. But it was after Owen's body was discovered that Lucas confessed all to his horrified wife, who convinced him to turn himself in. Lucas agreed but instead he drove Denise to a canal where he choked her. And when a body is discovered, Lucas identifies the deceased as his wife, leaving her grieving family and friends to believe that Denise took her own life... and leaving viewers wondering if it really was her...
And they were right to have doubts because Denise wasn't dead at all. Instead she was actually held captive by her deranged husband, and after a few weeks she managed to escape, leaving the residents of Albert Square shocked by her dramatic return - and of course relieved. The body identified as Denise was actually a prostitute called Gemma who was another one of Lucas's victims. Lucas was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment but lo and behold, he rocked up on the Square in 2020. Life doesn't really mean life in soapland!
4. Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth, 2015)
What is it with the women in Ian Beale's life that makes them want to fake their own deaths??? Now this was a comeback nobody saw coming! With Leslie Grantham's return to the show, his comeback was highly publicized so viewers knew he was returning and were eagerly awaiting the moment he stepped back onto Albert Square. But Gillian Taylforth's return to the show remained top secret, only revealed during the live episode celebrating EastEnders' thirtieth anniversary. In fact former EastEnders' actress Anna Acton who played DC Emma Summerhayes, the detective investigating Lucy Beale's murder, stepped in for Taylforth during rehearsals so that the press wouldn't get wind of who it actually was that was returning. Probably EastEnders' best kept secret... Too bad they couldn't do that with Michelle Collins' return!
OK back to Kathy! After her marriage to Phil broke down, she left Walford with little Ben for a new life in life in South Africa, where her older brother Ted was living. While out there she met up with an old friend, Gavin Sullivan, and went on to marry him. The character made two visits to the Square - one of them for son Ian's millennium wedding to Melanie Healy - and never returned after that. In 2006, the news came that Kathy and Gavin had been killed in a car crash which paved the way for Ben to be reunited with his big brother Ian, Phil and the rest of the Mitchell clan.
But Kathy and Gavin hadn't died. Instead controlling Gavin - who was later revealed to be Sharon Watts' biological father - had persuaded Kathy to go on the run with him following an insurance scam. After returning to Walford, Gavin continued to wreak havoc for Kathy and the other residents of Albert Square until he was arrested. Eight years later it's as if Kathy's fake death had never occurred with her running the café and Walford's first-ever gay bar, as well as dealing with the shenanigans of her children and grandchildren which at times would probably make her wish she'd never been resurrected! Just wait until she catches sight of Cindy! But these days Kathy is happily living her life with her new partner Tom Cotton (that's right - a Cotton!) and her grandson Bobby. She's also struck up a friendship with new Queen Vic landlady, Elaine, which is great because Kathy has needed a mate for a long time!
5. Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid, 2016)
This was more a case of mistaken identity rather than Ben deliberately trying to fake his own death - unlike his mum Kathy! The decision to come out to family and friends may fill a lot of people with apprehension. But when you're Phil Mitchell's son, it can be damn near impossible. Remember when Ben's cousin Tony Hills fell in love with his then girlfriend's brother Simon? Phil didn't show the poor lad much understanding or compassion then, even drunkenly outing him to his dad, Ted. Would things be any different with his own son?
Despite a rocky start, Phil eventually accepted that his son was gay, and he and his newly resurrected ex-wife Kathy were very supportive of Ben, and were pleased when he found love with the grandson of the local funeral directors, Paul Coker. Their relationship didn't have the easiest of starts but once they overcame several hurdles, things started to look up. Their relationship was accepted and they were even going to manage Paul's grandparents' business. Believing a celebration was in order, Paul and Ben arranged a night out. But the celebratory mood soon turned to tragedy when Ben's devastated family got the news that Ben had been killed in a homophobic attack. Phil and Ben's equally distraught brother Ian went to identify Ben's body but unbeknownst to them, there was another shocking waiting for them. As they identified the body, they realized that it wasn't Ben who had been killed. Heartbreakingly, it was Paul. He had been wrongly identified as the police saw he had the name 'Ben' tatooed on his ring finger. Though why they hadn't wondered why he had his own name tattooed on him is anybody's guess!
Lin Blakley who played Paul's grandmother, Pam Coker, hinted that there was going to be a twist that none of the viewers would see coming. She was right.
We're now waiting for the day when Mick Carter strolls back into The Vic in another fetching waistcoat!
Photos: YouTube
Blog graphics: Angel Noire
