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EastEnders fans were left shocked after it was revealed who sent the recording to Ian Beale to expose Cindy's affair during the first instalment of Wednesday night's Christmas episode.
As viewers of the BBC soap know, Cindy and Junior Knight have been trying to keep their shenanigans under wraps.
And during the day, Cindy made it clear to Elaine Knight that she was worried about a USB recording which includes a confession about her relationship with Junior.
Before heading over to the Queen Vic for some Christmas dinner, Lauren Branning bumped into Cindy and very awkwardly quoted some of the comments that she made in the recording.
Lauren asked her: 'You excited for Christmas at The Vic? Your old flame?'
'Enjoy it while you can but this time tomorrow you'll be out in the cold, I guarantee it,' Cindy replied.
EastEnders fans were shocked when it was revealed who was behind the USB gift in the first instalment of Wednesday's episode
Ian was gifted a USB with the words "Play me! Festive fun for all" - little did he know what was on the recording
Lauren said: 'You're going to put in a good word for me, are you? Just like you've been doing the last few weeks...'
She added: 'Spread the joy, Ian... George... Junior too? After all, you're not like Ian, you need a bit of passion in your life.
'You need it. You really need it. But only saying that's what you said!'
Viewers then rushed to X when the penny dropped and they finally realised that it was in fact Lauren who gifted Ian the USB.
Many compared the iconic scene to when she revealed her dad Max Branning and Stacey Slater's affair back in 2007.
One wrote on the social media platform: 'Omg it's Lauren with the recording again isn't it! She's a menace on Christmas!'
Another added: 'Loved the Lauren twist tonight. It's like 2007 all over again when she exposed Max & Stacey's affair. I'm glad they didn't go down the obvious route of George or Junior having the USB and exposing everything. #EastEnders.'
A third wrote: 'YOU CANT LET A RECORDING FALL INTO LAUREN BRANNING’S HANDS AT CHRISTMAS!! #EastEnders.'
It is in fact Lauren Branning who is behind Ian getting hold of the recording
Ian is left speechless when he finds out what Cindy has been saying about their relationship
'Sorry but Lauren Branning is queen of Christmas affair reveals! #Eastenders,' a fourth chimed in.
A fifth tweeted: 'Lauren branning exposes another affair at Christmas [laughing emojis] #EastEnders.'
At the end of the instalment Anna Knight pointed out that Ian hadn't opened one of his presents.
A confused Ian told her that he had already opened his as Lauren watched on in the background.
When he opened it, there was a USB with the words "Play me! Festive fun for all."
Ian asked George to play the recording out to the pub.
The Queen Vic went silent as they heard Cindy say: 'Nothing is going to happen between me and George.
Viewers then rushed to X when the penny dropped and they finally realised that it was in fact Lauren who gifted Ian the USB
'We had a kiss about a few months ago and that's dead in the water.'
Speaking about the kiss, she said that she told Ian: 'I told him I was drunk and it didn't mean anything.
'It just made me realise that I do really like George. I told him how I felt, he turned me down.
'He rejected me so I settled for Ian. I took the easy path. That's the reason I slept with Junior.'
The whole of the pub gasped as she admitted that she thinks of George while she was in bed with Junior.
Watch the second episode of EastEnders at 10:35pm on BBC One
