Harriet Thorpe has teased a big twist for her EastEnders character Elaine Peacock, who once clashed with Cindy Beale.

Elaine and Cindy, once fierce rivals, forge an unlikely bond after Linda sells the Queen Vic and changes Elaine’s world.

After losing her home and job as landlady, Elaine takes Cindy’s offer at the Prince Albert, sparking an unexpected friendship.

However, actress Harriet, 68, has hinted that there could be drama between the pair soon. “Have you seen who’s there? My frenemy,” she exclusively told the Mirror at the National Television Awards. The star, who has also appeared in Absolutely Fabulous, added: “Frenemy – half friend, half enemy.”

When asked whether the pair could come to blows any time soon, Harriet revealed: “It’s only a matter of time. You heard it here first!” Having first joined the soap opera in 2023, it’s fair to say that Elaine has seen her fair share of drama – including cheating on her husband George, who also cheated on her.

She says it’s an honour to tell meaningful stories, and she loves that life on the BBC soap is never the same.

“That’s the joy and the honour of being on this show,” she said, adding: “You never stay the same, you are always evolving.” And evolving is what the show has done. Cindy and Elaine’s ex-husband, George, moved on with Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) after the pair engaged in a fling at the local nightclub.

But while most exes would have been livid, Cindy and Elaine appeared to be carefree. Elaine even told George that she was happy he’d personally told her the news. Last month, armed thugs attacked Elaine in a heated clash, throwing her to the ground.

Elaine steps in to protect Kojo at The Arches, but thugs brutally shove her to the ground.

Okie secretly orchestrated the attack, later paying the thugs despite seeming to rescue Elaine and Kojo.