Hollyoaks’ Cindy Cunningham is ready for battle when someone breaks in to her home says star Steph Waring…

With DS Gavin Armstrong safely out of town, Cindy Cunningham had hoped life in Hollyoaks might return to normal for her. But the stalking horror continues and she’s getting increasingly paranoid! Is it the mad copper or is somebody else trying to scare her?

"She’s terrified," actress Steph Waring told Soaplife. "Will the situation improve when her beloved sister, Mandy Cunningham, shows up?"

Who does Cindy think is stalking her? “She thinks it’s still Armstrong because he is out there somewhere and she wouldn’t put it past him. He did say he’d never forget her and she thinks he might be trying to reach out to her in some kind of a way. She doesn’t consider it could be another person.”

Tell us about the mystery phone call she gets… “The phone rings and the voice on the other end of the line is distorted. She can’t actually make out who it is and it freaks her out. It’s really creepy.”

How does she react? “She’s always on edge now. When the phone rings or she hears anything. With everything she’s been through, with the bi-polar rearing its ugly head again, this is not helping. She’s more anxious than ever.”

Does she confide in anyone? “She tells Dirk, but he thinks she isn’t taking her medication and she’s getting confused. He doesn’t think it’s as serious as Cindy believes it to be.”

What happens when she hears somebody break in? “There’s a figure at the back door and the person is trying to get in. She calls Dirk. Before he gets there, though, the door opens and Cindy attacks the intruder with a broom.”

Who is it? “You’ll have to wait and see…”

What does Cindy think about Mandy being back? “She’s thrilled. They’re sisters and Mandy hasn’t kept in touch like she said she would. It’s so nice for Cindy to have a familiar face in the village when she’s having such a tough time.”

What does she think when Mandy reveals she has kidnapped her own daughter from foster care? “She’s shocked, but it takes her mind off her own problems for a while. Cindy naturally wants to help Mandy, who’s terrified of being caught by the police and Cindy will do anything to help. She’s sad to see her sister isn’t as together as she was when she left the village.”

Is there more misery to come for Cindy? “I can’t tell you what happens, but there are some happier times ahead! Her bi-polar is under control, Mandy is back and the future is much brighter.”

Hollyoaks’ Cindy Cunningham may have narrowly escaped the clutches of crazed stalker DS Gavin Armstrong, but there are still dangerous times ahead for her, reveals star Steph Waring

After the horrors that occurred at the Liverpool Powerful Women Conference with dodgy DS Gavin Armstrong, Cindy Cunningham is a nervous wreck, worrying the sinister cop is lurking somewhere in the shadows, watching her every move.

"She’s terrified," Steph Waring told Soaplife. “She doesn’t feel safe at all, anywhere.”

Is Cindy still in shock? “She’s anxious and paranoid. Armstrong [Andrew Hayden-Smith] was the one person she thought would protect her. He was her knight in shining armour, but it all came as a terrible shock when he tried to kiss her and Leela Lomax texted her with a warning.”

What’s this doing to her mental state? “It’s bringing on a bipolar episode. Cindy starts pulling TVs apart and looking for bugs, cameras and stuff. She thinks there are things hiding in the walls and she can’t sleep. It’s awful for her. She has an alarm that lodger Milo Entwistle gives her and she carries around the whole time.”

Then she thinks Armstrong is in the house! “Her partner, Dirk, gives her some sleeping pills, Cindy falls asleep on the sofa and she wakes up, thinking Armstrong is standing over her. She screams and Dirk runs in, but there’s nobody there. Dirk thinks it was a dream, but Cindy’s certain he was there.”

What does Cindy think Armstrong wants from her? “She really thinks he’s trying to kill her and that’s what makes this so horrific. It scares her that he’s clever and manipulative. She doesn’t know what to expect next.”

Do you know what happens next? “Unfortunately for Cindy, things are going to get worse for a while.”

Hollyoaks, Channel 4

Stalker DS Armstrong has plans for Cindy in Hollyoaks…And they don’t sound all that pleasant! Actor Andrew Hayden-Smith explains all

Cindy Cunningham is thrilled when DS Gavin Armstrong offers to escort her to a conference for powerful women. Little does she know he’s behind the hate campaign against her. Leela Lomax is on to him, but will she blow the whistle?

“He doesn’t want Leela on the scene,” Andrew Hayden-Smith told Soaplife. “He knows who her baby’s dad is and he uses that to stop her from blowing his cover.”

Armstrong is seriously creepy… What on earth is going on in his head? “All this stems from being rejected by his mother. He likes strong women, blondes – he loves mums really! He also likes being in control, which is why he can’t go about things the normal way and ask a woman out. He’s a strange one all right!”

And what is it he likes about Cindy? “She’s feisty and he really likes that. That’s what attracts him to Cindy [Stephanie Waring], but it could also be that he’s met his match with her.”

But she trusts him… “Yes, she does. He’s put the frighteners on Cindy with this hate campaign and now she’s leaning on him heavily, which is what he wants!”

Leela knows his game, though! “She does and, when she turns up at the Cunninghams’ as a cleaner, it’s the last thing Armstrong wants because she could blow the whistle at any minute. He knows her big secret, but he’s still worried enough to plant Cindy’s engagement ring on her to make it look like she’s stealing it.”

Does Leela warn off Cindy? “You’ll have to wait and see. Armstrong manages to get Cindy to go to this powerful women conference in Liverpool and Leela’s desperate to warn her.”

What does he want from Cindy? "In his head, he thinks he has this romantic evening ahead. He’s even got lingerie for her. It’s not going to happen because she’s happy with Dirk. He just wants one of these strong women to want him.”

Is Cindy in danger from Armstrong? “Yes. When he doesn’t get his way, he can be dangerous. We’ve already seen him throw Zack Loveday down the stairs.”

What’s in store for him? “There’s a character from his past who’ll turn up, so keep an eye out.”

Hollyoaks, C4

Cindy’s desperate to support grieving son Alfie in Hollyoaks, but her fears that he’s bipolar kick off a new family split! Steph Waring explains all to Soaplife…

Cindy Cunningham’s fella, Dirk, is desperate to reunite her with son Alfie, but Alfie won’t play ball as he wrongly believes his mum slept with Ellie’s boyfriend, Freddie. “Cindy’s wanted to bond with Alfie ever since he came back into her life,” Steph Waring tells Soaplife. “But she has other loyalties as well and she can’t land Marnie Nightingale [Lysette Anthony] in it over sleeping with Freddie [Charlie Clapham].”

Why does Cindy want to be a mum to Alfie (Richard Linnell) so badly? “She put him out of her mind for a long, long time and she managed to protect herself by developing a heart of stone. But he is her son and she’s wanted a relationship with him ever since he came back into her life. She’s older now and she’s softened a lot. She wants to prove she can be there for him and make up for lost time.”

Is it difficult for her to see him grieving for Jade? “Yes. Although she can be a bit thoughtless at times, she only wants the best for him. She desperately wants to help him at such a difficult time.”

Why doesn’t she tell the truth about Marnie sleeping with Freddie? “She has loyalties and she feels she can’t do it to Marnie. Besides, she was paid off and she has no intention of giving the money back. She hopes one day Alfie will realise the truth and understand she’s not that bad after all.”

Does she have a strategy as far as Alfie is concerned? “No. She’s just hoping he’ll come to her. He does actually go and see her and she’s delighted, but she worries because he says he can see Jade [Kassius Nelson] and he still talks to her.”

How does she react to that? “In typical dramatic Cindy fashion, she goes into a panic and starts telling everyone Alfie is bipolar. She’s afraid it could be hereditary and she thinks the worst.”

Is Cindy in a good place mentally? “She is at the moment. But her little brother Tom [Ellis Hollins] is still missing, so that’s on her mind a lot of the time.

What advice does OB (Darren Jeffries) give her? “He urges Cindy to build bridges with Alfie, but their relationship hits a stumbling block when he finds out she’s talked to Mac [David Easter] about the possibility of him being bipolar.”

Will Cindy be playing happy families by Christmas? “She’d love that because, for the first time in her life, she’d have her family around her. It means more to her than anything.”

Is it weird having such grown-up on-screen children? “It is. Amanda Clapham, who plays Cindy’s daughter, Holly, is 27 [Steph is 38]! I just hope the writers don’t give Holly or Alfie kids of their own. It would finish me off if Cindy became a grandmother!”

Hollyoaks, Channel 4

Mac's about to get hitched to Neeta. If only she realised he's still secretly married to Cindy!

Jason is left red-faced when secret lover, Cindy, turns up at the police station in a wedding dress!

Hollyoaks' Stephanie Waring says Cindy is in the wrong place at the wrong time on the Channel 4 soap next week…

Cindy's attacked and left for dead outside the garage… How is she feeling before the assault?

"She’s taking her medication and things are going well. However, after the attack, all the insecurities come out and it sparks off her bipolar issues."

What’s she doing at the garage?

"She’s gone to see Darren [Ashley Taylor Dawson] about a job for Jason."

Do you think she has feelings for Darren?

"Darren’s very attentive after the attack and you do wonder if Cindy’s heart lies elsewhere. She’ll always have some feelings for him. They could always fall back into it. It would only take one word from him." 

Does she have any idea who attacked her?

"No. At first, she takes it personally and she feels paranoid. But Darren suspects it was meant for him, which makes Cindy realise she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Is Dirk worried for Cindy?

"Dirk is and he’s being the good fiance, but Cindy’s not really focused on him. Something’s not right with her."

Is Dirk the right man for Cindy?

"He is at the moment. He’s changed Cindy in a lot of ways, but I prefer the Cindy of old. The more devious and selfish Cindy. I don’t think they’ll be together for ever."

What do you think of the bipolar storyline?

"It’s really positive we’re highlighting mental health issues and, for me, it’s a great challenge."

Dirk is shocked when it looks like his partner, Cindy, is the mystery blackmailer!

Is this the end for Cindy when killer Will attacks her in Hollyoaks?

Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Waring has revealed she's earned a new contract on the soap.

Stephanie has played Cindy Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap on and off since 1996 and tweeted her good news, showing how excited she was to be sticking around for longer.

She wrote: "New contract!!! @Hollyoaks," adding smiley faces and thumbs up emojis.

mong those quick to congratulate her on her new deal were Hollyoaks' writers Jonathan Larkin and Chris Gill, but Stephanie didn't say how much longer her contract would keep her in the village.

Her recent storyline has seen her character developing bi-polar disorder, which is yet to be diagnosed, and previous co-star Andrew Moss is set to be brought back, despite his character Rhys Ashworth having been killed off, as Cindy starts seeing visions of her former love.

Stephanie's current run in Hollyoaks began in 2011.

Hollyoaks’ Steph Waring tells Soaplife how the stress of Dr Browning’s murder and being pregnant with his child brings on the premature birth of Cindy’s baby… And now her biggest fear is that her baby won’t live.

Cindy’s falling apart, isn’t she?

“She is carrying Dr Browning’s baby and the guilt she feels about his murder won’t go away. She still thinks she, Lindsey and Mercedes will be caught.”

How are things with Dirk at this point?

“They get back together. Cindy faints and he helps her upstairs. It’s a lovely scene, but I don’t know if they will stay together. Mercedes and Lindsey are more worried about Cindy’s mental state and that she’ll lose it completely and blab.”

How does Cindy feel about being a mum again?

“She wants to be a good mum. This baby is her new start. She wants to right all the wrongs. Her waters break when she is with Dirk.”

She must be terrified…

“She is. Lindsey is there, too, and Cindy is rushed into hospital, where she gives birth to a boy. As she was only 24 weeks pregnant, she knows there’s a chance that the baby won’t survive. She is in a very vulnerable state mentally. A lot of babies don’t survive at 24 weeks, so it is terrifying, dramatic and sad. Cindy is laid bare. She is stripped of everything she was and it is all about this little baby.”

Will we see a different Cindy on the other side of this?

“I think we will, but I don’t know if it will necessarily be in a good way.”

Hollyoaks' Cindy Cunningham could be set for motherhood when she begins to consider keeping Dr Paul Browning's baby.

Cindy, played by Stephanie Waring, is pregnant after a one-night stand with the evil doctor, who is married to Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe).

Mercedes tells Cindy to have a termination, but the mum of one is unsure that she wants to give up her chance of another child.

Stephanie told Inside Soap: "Cindy wants the baby, but she's in two minds about what to do next. After all, it's Doctor Browning's baby - it's like the spawn of evil!

"But it could be her last chance to have another child. So when Mercedes tells Cindy to have a termination, she just doesn't know whether she can go through with it."

The actress also revealed her alter ego would meet Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson) at the abortion clinic, who is in a similar situation as she is pregnant with Dodger Savage's (Danny Mac) baby.

Stephanie said: "They've never really seen eye-to-eye, but they're drawn together in this moment - they kind of lean on each other. It's a really sweet scene, and Maxine gives Cindy food for thought."