EASTENDERS’ Cindy Beale punched her ex-partner Ian in the face as the former couple had a feisty showdown in today’s episode.

Viewers are still guessing who attacked Cindy on Christmas Day in the high-profile whodunit storyline.

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The Beale family are at the centre of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the long-running BBC serial drama.

Since Cindy’s (Michelle Collins) affair with Junior Knight was discovered, she has been trying to worm her way back into her family’s lives.

Despite initially taking care of her after the attack, Ian (Adam Woodyatt) unceremoniously booted her out of the home.

Now, she wants to return to number 45 Albert Square to collect the rest of her belongings.

Cindy started off by begging her son Peter (Thomas Law) to allow her into the house, but he refused to get involved.

He insisted that it was Ian’s decision, much to the pleasure of his grandmother, Kathy (Gillian Taylforth).

Not only that, Ian cleared out all their savings from their joint business account, leaving Cindy furious.

So she then went to Beale’s Eels to try and talk some sense into her ex-husband, but he wasn’t having any of it.

He kept jabbing at her, as Priya and her two kids, Avani and Nugget, watched on in amusement.

As she stormed in, Ian said: “If you’re coming to work, you’re fired!”

This was before Cindy raged at the fact that he had left her both homeless and penniless.

As she asked how she was supposed to live, he sarcastically replied: “It’s not nice being screwed over, is it? … You can always try walking the streets?”.

Cindy then rummaged the shop looking for the keys to the house, but Ian kept a close guard on them.

Holding the keys up to taunt his former fiancée, he then stated: “You really are as stupid as you look.”

Who attacked Cindy Beale: The suspects

Cindy Beale was dramatically attacked at the end of the highly-anticipated Christmas Day special.

But there is question on the lips of every fan, who exactly was behind it?

Elaine Knight (Harriet Thorpe): She blackmailed Cindy to get out of Walford before kicking her husband George out following his surprise reaction to the public revelation about the affair. Cindy also called her ‘withered’ in her long rant.

George Knight (Colin Salmon): He claimed he was not interested in reigniting things with his ex-wife. But he was left enraged by his son’s behaviour, leaving his relationship with Elaine in ruins.

Junior Knight (Micah Balfour): He was caught suspiciously lurking in the shadows by Denise in the aftermath of the attack. He was hurt by Cindy because she claimed their affair only happened because he reminded her of his father George.

Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt): After finding out about the affair, hew kicked Cindy out in anger. He then trashed his living room, he stormed out the house and appeared to be unreachable at the time of the attack and in the aftermath.

Kojo Asare (Oludayo Koleosho): After finding out about Cindy’s affair, she put him into a coma when she pushed him off a raised platform. Could he want revenge?

Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth): She was the one to find Cindy on the pavement in the Square gardens after she was attacked with the snow shovel. Kathy always remained suspicious of Cindy because of her past and was devastated at the destruction of her family.

Anna Knight (Molly Rainford): Was seen looking out of the upstairs window with a birds eye view of the square at the time Cindy went to get her cab.

Gina Knight (Francesca Henry): Recovering addict Gina snuck out of the Vic with her coat to go on a ‘walk’, just before the attack took place.

Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa): Cindy got Lauren addicted to smack and revealed her addiction to her family, leaving Peter devastated and her family destroyed. Just before Cindy was attacked, Lauren was contemplating taking more pills in the car lot.

Peter Beale (Thomas Law): Cindy destroyed the family unit they all shared by her actions. She then called him ‘stupid’ in her extensive monologue in the Vic which left his drowning his tears.

As Cindy continued to fume, Ian was emboldened by his new-found sass.

She insisted that she just wanted to get her stuff, but he snarkily replied: “I was always a sucker for a pretty young woman, but you’re neither of those any more, are you?”.

The anger took over Cindy as she then delivered a swift and painful jab to the nose of her former partner.

Holding his painful nose, Ian remarked: “If that’s broken, I’m gonna sue you!”

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EastEnders continues on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.