EastEnders’ Christmas Day offering revolved around the dramatic reveal of Cindy Beale and Junior Knight’s affair, as her sordid conversation with David Wicks was played out loud in The Vic. All her secrets, including her love for ex-husband George, became public knowledge and all hell broke loose amid the festivities.

By the end of the episode, Cindy was left lying motionless in the snowy Square after being hit with a shovel by a mystery attacker. We didn’t know whether she would survive, but she is now awake from her coma and will return to Walford next week.

However, another major question needs answering: who did this to Cindy? There is no shortage of suspects, considering the number of enemies she has made in recent weeks. It won’t be too long before we find out the truth, as the attacker will be revealed during the show’s 40th anniversary week in February.

With clues continuing to be uncovered, let’s take a look at the suspect list and who could be responsible:

Ian

When Cindy and Junior’s affair was broadcast, Ian’s world came crashing down as he realised that his partner had betrayed him yet again. Cindy was confident that Ian would forgive him once more, but instead he decided to finally break the cycle. He kicked her out of the house, after telling her that she doesn’t deserve to live.

That evening, Ian had a breakdown and violently destroyed his living room, in a scene that mirrored Arthur’s breakdown in 1986. Since Christmas, Ian has been reluctant to visit Cindy in hospital, and in next week’s scenes, he refuses to let her stay with him when she returns to Albert Square.

But it seems that there may be hope for the iconic, dysfunctional couple. Last month, actor Adam Woodyatt told Digital Spy and other press: “It’s one of those love stories that is hopefully going to keep going. Hopefully there’s a resolution to it and they find their way through.”

However, was Ian responsible for the Christmas Day attack?

George

Cindy’s and Junior’s betrayal hit George harder than most, as he found out that his ex-wife and his son had been involved. He was immediately suspicious, as viewers found out that the shirt he was wearing that day ended up splattered with blood – plus, he asked Kojo to give him an alibi if needed.

In this week’s episodes, the Knights discovered George’s shirt and were concerned that he attacked Cindy. But he explained that he in fact took part in an illegal fight that evening to release his anger, and the blood was of his opponent. His family believed his account of the night, but is George telling the truth?

Elaine

Cindy has interfered with Elaine and George’s relationship since she first returned to Walford. Elaine was the first to discover the USB stick with the recording of Cindy and David’s chat, and she used this to try and force her rival out of Albert Square. This didn’t work, so perhaps she resorted to more desperate measures.

In the hospital after Cindy was attacked, Elaine was suspiciously quick to conclude that a mugger must have been responsible. Then after confronting George about his bloodied shirt, she asked her husband if, hypothetically speaking, he would dispose of incriminating evidence against her. How far would Elaine go to protect her relationship with George?

Gina

Gina was devastated to find out about her mum and half-brother’s affair, and even more so when Cindy called her and Anna “pathetic” in her angry outburst in The Vic. It seems that she is hiding something, as in the montage of suspects in the Christmas Day episode, Gina was seen sneaking out of the house just before Cindy was attacked. Where was she going, and could she have attacked her own mum?

Anna

Like her sister, Anna was blindsided by the events of Christmas Day. As Cindy was stood in the Square before her attack, Anna could be spotted watching her mum from her window – then Elaine discovered her washing her hands in the kitchen just as Cindy’s body was discovered.

When Cindy is released from hospital in next week’s episodes, Anna opens up to her sister about her fears. Is she hiding something?

Lauren

In a throwback to the Stacey and Max reveal of 2007, Lauren was responsible for Cindy and David’s chat being played in The Vic, as revenge for Cindy turning her family against her. However, she was frustrated that she also faced hostility from everyone for her actions, with her partner Peter disgusted by what she did.

Lauren will become the prime suspect in the case, as after Cindy gives a statement to the police next week, she is arrested for her attempted murder. Lauren later tells Peter about what really happened on Christmas Day, but is she really responsible?

Junior

Junior’s current relationship with Cindy is complicated; while he heard on the tape that her true feelings are for his dad George, he is still convinced that they had a serious connection. After Cindy’s attack, Denise spotted him watching events unfold on the Square as police investigated the scene and thought it suspicious.

He then secretly visited her in hospital and apologised to Cindy at her bedside. Is Junior saying sorry for the attack or something else?

Kathy

It isn’t a surprise that Kathy is a suspect, as there has been huge animosity between her and Cindy over decades. She was furious that Cindy had betrayed her beloved son Ian once again, and the pair even had a physical altercation on that evening. Kathy doesn’t have an alibi for the time of Cindy’s attack, though Harvey stepped in to cover for her. Is Kathy capable of murder?

Peter

Though Cindy is his mum, Peter has more motive than most for attacking her. Her actions have affected his dad, his partner and his siblings – and she could have harmed his unborn child by blackmailing Lauren with drugs.

Despite this, Peter is one of the only people to support Cindy when she wakes up from the coma, and in upcoming episodes he attempts to find her a place to stay on her return to Walford. Is his kindness a result of a guilty conscience?

Someone else

EastEnders have confirmed nine official suspects in Cindy’s whodunit mystery, but there is always a chance that someone else could end up being responsible. Another popular theory is Kojo, who Cindy previously threatened when he found out about her and Junior’s affair. Plus, there are countless outlandish suggestions about past characters staging a dramatic return to bump off Cindy.

With weeks to go until the culprit is revealed, who do you think is responsible?