Classic Scoop
CINDY TAKES DRASTIC ACTION TO BREAK FREE FROM IAN…
It has been claimed, by those who know about such things, that the only creature fated to outlive a nuclear apocalypse will be the humble cockroach. However, we know that even this most hardy of survivors is positively feeble compared with soap’s No 1 creepy-crawly. Should armageddon ever come, those plucky cockroaches will still be ordering their fish and chips from Ian Beale.
Our Ian has recently escaped poisoning by Sharon, of course – not to mention a shipwreck, and countless throttlings from the likes of Max and Phil
– while an ever-growing majority of his friends and neighbours are mouldering in the grave. Like Voldemort or Wile E Coyote, he just keeps coming right back atcha.
The first clues to Ian’s immortality came 25 years ago, when, in an attempt to break free of her clingy husband, Cindy Beale paid a hitman £1,500 to shoot him in the street. A bargain, sure, but doomed to fail at any price.
To her credit, Cindy gets cold feet in the days before the assassination attempt, and tries to call the whole thing off. And when the gunman opens fire from a passing car, she even attempts to pull Ian out of the way. As her bleeding husband is rushed to hospital, Cindy stands dumbstruck, and Grant clocks her strangely spaced-out manner.
Of course, all this mayhem is designed to free up Cindy to run away with David. However, when he learns what Cindy has done, David realises she’s waaaay more trouble than she’s worth. Under pressure from the police, Cindy decides to flee the county, but a cunning plan to steal away her three children goes wrong, and she is forced to leave little
Lucy at home. Phil and Grant chase Cindy, Steven and
Peter to the Eurostar, but arrive just as the train is leaving. Ian – making a full recovery – vows to find them…