 The episodes were also notable for being the last appearance of Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).Despite the high-profile exits, the episodes were beaten in the ratings by rival soap "Coronation Street", which garnered 14 million viewers.It had been reported that "EastEnders"' producers had been hoping to topple the ratings success of "Coronation Street" popular "Free Deirdre" storyline, the jailing of the Street's Deirdre Rachid for a crime she didn't commit.