The perpetrator responsible for Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) attack will be revealed during EastEnders’ 40th anniversary week.

Cindy, as viewers know, was struck across the back of the skull with a snow shovel and left to die on Christmas Day.

There is no shortage of suspects, with the truth about her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) having been dramatically exposed in the Queen Vic just hours earlier.

The Beale and the Knight clans were torn apart as Cindy faced the music and everyone demanded answers from her. Cindy, however, refused to be questioned and gave her loved ones a dressing down, turning her back on everyone.

When Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) refused to give her another chance, Cindy found herself out in the cold, ordering a cab to take her away from the Square.

But before she could depart, one furious resident picked up a snow shovel and hit her across the back of the head, leaving her for dead.

The Boxing Day offering of the BBC One soap saw Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and George Knight (Colin Salmon) stumbled upon Cindy lying motionless in the snow and an ambulance was summoned, with the police following suit.

An investigation commenced, while Cindy was taken into surgery and place in an induced coma, with doctors unsure if she will wake up.

The unexpected development kicks off a huge whodunit storyline, which will play a pivotal role in the approaching 40th anniversary, much like ‘Who Killed Lucy Beale?’ did in the 30th.

With Cindy’s affair – plus her manipulation of Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) and supplying Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) with drugs – being exposed, the suspect list is endless.

But who really attacked Cindy?

Many characters will find themselves in the frame over the next few weeks and fans will ultimately get the answer to such a question during EastEnders’ 40th anniversary week in February.

Discussing the storyline, EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw said: ‘Our 40th anniversary storylines have been in the works for some time, but even at the very start of planning, we knew that we wanted to reveal the identity of Cindy’s attacker as part of this.

‘Many characters currently find themselves in the line of question, but over the coming weeks, the audience can look out for clues themselves to who may be the culprit.

‘Cindy’s attacker reveal is just one of many stories we have planned for the anniversary as it is set to be a week of explosive drama for the audience to remember.’

We can’t wait!

In addition to Cindy’s attacker being revealed, the 40th will also the Queen Vic go up in flames, plus Billy and Honey Mitchell’s (Perry Fenwick and Emma Barton) wedding.

There will also be a live element of the week, where viewers will get to choose the outcome of one storyline in particular.