EastEnders star Michelle Collins, who played Ian Beale’s wife Cindy, has hit out at the BBC soap for its decision to kill of iconic characters, leaving them no chance of return.
Her remarks come shortly after the horror murder of Kush Kazemi, who was pushed under a train by Gray Atkins last week, with Tina Carter also killed by the same villain just months earlier.
EastEnders has killed of many huge and much-loved characters over the years including Tiffany Mitchell, ‘Dirty’ Den Watts, Pauline Fowler, Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, Bradley Branning, Lucy Beale and Heather Trott.
One fan tweeted Michelle to say she had watched Cindy’s exit scene before she was killed off in childbirth off screen, in 1998, and criticised the decision.
![Michelle Collins will be starring on the new series of Celebrity MasterChef](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article23971136.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_Good-Morning-Britain-TV-show-London-UK-19-Sep-2019.jpg)
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX)
She wrote: “Just watched Cindy’s exit with Steven and Peter. I am so gutted that she has now gone. I know she comes back into it for a few episodes when Ian tracks her down.
“But still… Big mistake EastEnders… BIG MISTAKE, HUGE!!! #Eastenders#classiceastenders@missmcollins “.
Another follower replied: “Wasn’t it @missmcollins choice cos she was pregnant?” with the original user replying: “Yes but they killed her off”.
![Cindy Beale died off screen in childbirth in 1998](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article23971133.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Television-Programmes-EastEnders.jpg)
(Image: BBC)
Michelle quoted this tweet, adding: “Yes they do it a lot to major characters , kind of silly ! Producers come in and want to make their mark ! X”.
One of her followers replied: “Cindy, Ronnie, Roxie, Mel…huge mistakes! Least Cindy was killed off screen so there is a glimmer of hope”.
“It really is! “Cindy” was iconic … then they killed Steven and Lucy,” added another.
![EastEnders fans have been left heartbroken by Kush's untimely demise](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article23859885.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_EMB-22287870-high-.jpg)
(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
A third ranted: “They haven’t stopped. The current producers are the worst for it: they’re bloodthirsty. Killed a legacy child for f**k all reason apart from shock value last year, and just recently killed off one of the best + most popular male characters and actors.
“They will never learn.”
This viewer is not the only one who expressed anger at Kush’s death, with many fans taking to Twitter to share their thoughts.
![Michelle as Stella Price on Coronation Street with John Michie as Karl Munroe](https://i2-prod.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article23971135.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/2_04_CORO_KARL_STELLA_02JPG.jpg)
One penned: “I am heartbroken for Davood. I can’t imagine the cast being happy about this in the slightest. EastEnders in 2021 is in such a dire strait it simply can’t have the arrogance to write out and kill off characters like Max, Tina, Denny and Kush .”
Another wrote: “This is actually outrageous though, the big kill off mistakes of #EastEnders : Pat, Kathy (redeemed), Fatboy, Mel and now Kush .”
“Look, I’m not even particularly into that s***e, but why the f**k would you kill offKush ?” asked another.
“I’m not gutted like I was when Michael Moon went – now *that* was a character – but this is just plain wrong. #EastEnders “.
* EastEnders airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One
Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-star-michelle-collins-slams-23970702