Ian Beale: Difference between revisions

| family = [[Beale family|Beale]]

| father = [[Pete Beale]]

| daughters = [[Lucy Beale]]

| grandsons = [[Louie Beale]]

| nephews = [[Joe Wicks (EastEnders)|Joe Wicks]]

 

'''Ian Albert Beale''' is a fictional character from the [[BBC]] soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'', played by [[Adam Woodyatt]]. He is the drama's longest-serving main character and one of four remaining original characters, the others being his mother [[Kathy Beale]] ([[Gillian Taylforth|Gilian Taylforth]]), [[Sharon Watts]] ([[Letitia Dean]]) and [[Tracey the barmaid|Tracey]] ([[Jane Slaughter (actor)|Jane Slaughter]]). The character appeared in his 2,000th episode in the show on 26 March 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/eastenders-ian-beele-chalks-up-2000-episodes/ |title=Eastenders: Ian Beale Chalks Up 2000 Episodes! |publisher=Unreality TV |date=4 April 2007 |first=Lisa |last=McGarry |access-date=3 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820102004/http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/eastenders-ian-beele-chalks-up-2000-episodes/ |archive-date=20 August 2008 }}</ref> and his 3,000th on 27 May 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/eastenders/photos/a.171304504938.120340.169383494938/10154248021674939/?type=3&theater |title=BBC EastEnders |website=[[Facebook]] |access-date=27 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528060415/https://www.facebook.com/eastenders/photos/a.171304504938.120340.169383494938/10154248021674939/?type=3&theater |archive-date=28 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Woodyatt took an extended break from ''EastEnders'' on 22 January 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a36909906/eastenders-adam-woodyatt-ian-beale-return-possibility/ |title=EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt says that Ian Beale may not return |publisher=Digitalspy.com |date= 2 July 2021|accessdate=10 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/26/eastenders-star-adam-woodyatt-increases-ian-beale-exit-to-over-a-year-15488990/amp/ |title=EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt delays Ian Beale's return until at least May |first=Duncan |last=Lindsay |date=26 October 2021}}</ref> He made appearances on 12 December 2022 and 22 June 2023, prior to a full-time return on 22 August.

As a teenager, Ian argues with his father [[Pete Beale]] ([[Peter Dean (actor)|Peter Dean]]) over his desire to become a caterer but his grandmother [[Lou Beale]] ([[Anna Wing]]) encourages him. He starts several businesses and buys a local café soon after graduating from catering college. Ian has several failed romances, including with his childhood friend, [[Sharon Watts]] ([[Letitia Dean]]). Sharon becomes interested in [[Simon Wicks]] ([[Nick Berry]]), who was believed to be Ian's half-brother, but they remain close friends. When his cousin Michelle falls pregnant, he is initially suspected to be the father by Pete and Kathy. He starts a relationship with [[Tina Hopkins]] (Eleanor Rhodes) and the pair decide to move in together, renting one of [[Kelvin Carpenter]]'s ([[Paul J. Medford]]) father [[Tony Carpenter]]'s ([[Oscar James]]) flats. Ian eventually loses his virginity to her, to his glee. Ian and Tina break up when Tina's parents make an unannounced visit and are unhappy with their living conditions, so they take Tina to Ilford. Ian's uncle [[Kenny Beale]] ([[Michael Attwell]]) and cousin [[Elizabeth Beale]] (Lucy Bayler) visit from New Zealand and Ian and Elizabeth taking a liking to each other, but they break up when Elizabeth constantly flirts with men and she returns home. Ian begins to develop a relationship with [[Donna Ludlow]] ([[Matilda Ziegler]]), not knowing she is his half-sister until his mother [[Kathy Beale]] ([[Gillian Taylforth]]) tells him she was raped as a teenager and gave Donna up for adoption.

 

 

Ian has a serious romance with [[Melanie Healy]] ([[Tamzin Outhwaite]]), the manager of his bric-a-brac shop. She proposes to him but later cheats on him with [[Steve Owen (EastEnders)|Steve Owen]] ([[Martin Kemp]]). Suspecting that she is planning to leave him, Ian manipulates her by falsely claiming that Lucy is dying from [[lymphoma]]. They marry in 1999, but she leaves him during their wedding reception after discovering that Lucy is fine. Ian then pursues a new business venture: development of high-market flats. He begins a casual relationship with his nanny, [[Laura Dunn]] ([[Hannah Waterman]]), but only commits to her after being declared bankrupt. Laura buys back the fish and chip shop and, despite fearing that Ian is only interested in an inheritance she has received, they marry in May 2001. Their marriage deteriorates when Ian attempts to kiss Mel. He refuses to have a child with Laura, who frequently belittles him. Steven learns that Ian has been visiting local prostitute [[Janine Butcher]] ([[Charlie Brooks]]), and tells Laura, before moving to [[New Zealand]] to live with Simon. Laura forgives Ian on the condition that they have a baby. Although he agrees, Ian has a secret [[vasectomy]] and throws Laura out when she becomes pregnant later that year after conning her into signing over control of their businesses.

[[Category:Fictional criminals in soap operas]]

[[Category:Fictional hostages and kidnapped people]]