EastEnders' Elaine Knight is all 'about survival' after brutal Cindy Beale attack

EastEnders

The past few weeks have been eventful for Elaine Knight, the pub owner in EastEnders, portrayed by Harriet Thorpe.

EastEnders - Figure 1
Photo Radio Times

After recently aiding her daughter in overcoming a perilous struggle with alcoholism, the usually cheerful woman discovered that her husband's former partner has been involved with her son-in-law. What a tangled situation!

In a further heartbreaking turn, Elaine discovered that there were unresolved emotions between George (Colin Salmon) and Cindy (Michelle Collins). This became evident when she saw George yelling at his son for taking something that belonged to him.

During a private conversation with George in The Vic, Elaine scolded her husband for his comments. She emphasized that Junior (Micah Balfour) and Cindy are both adults and he shouldn't be as concerned as he appears to be.

Elaine decisively ended her relationship with her partner due to his behavior, but the incident had a devastating impact on the entire Knight family.

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The Christmas episode took a dramatic turn when Cindy was brutally attacked with a shovel, leaving her in a life-threatening situation. This raised a major question: who would be responsible for such an act? (Or perhaps, who wouldn’t be?)

Would Elaine really? She's been through so much already and was barely holding it together even before the turkey made its appearance...

Is it possible that Elaine was the one who assaulted Cindy? BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

In a recent screening, Thorpe discussed with reporters, including those from RadioTimes.com, how far Elaine would go to protect her family—possibly even resorting to killing.

Thorpe explained, "Elaine's focus has always been on survival. She’ll go to any lengths to keep what’s important to her and maintain control. That’s her top priority... with no stress involved."

When questioned about how important family is to Elaine, Thorpe responded, "Without a doubt. We've witnessed it over the past few weeks with her daughter who struggles with alcoholism. Elaine puts on a brave face, but Cindy has been challenging her from the very beginning, and I believe this situation is what has pushed her to her limits..."

But how does Thorpe handle a shovel?

"I'm pretty skilled at gardening," the actress remarked, straight-faced.

Take from that what you wish, then.

EastEnders is broadcast from Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One, and you can watch it anytime from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

Head over to our special EastEnders section for the newest updates, interviews, and sneak peeks. If you want more viewing options, take a look at our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

Helen Daly serves as the Associate Editor for Radio Times, where she is responsible for managing new projects and business endeavors for the brand. Before this role, she worked as the Deputy TV Editor at a national magazine. Helen holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and a Master's degree in Media and Journalism from Newcastle University.

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