While his stepbrother Ben is concerned about his father, Phil Mitchell, he has handed a golden platter to Ian Beale by making him aware of the financial troubles in which the Mitchell family find themselves. Rather bizarrely, despite the fact that Ian and Phil Mitchell have never seen eye to eye, he has now stepped in with a promise of money to help them escape their predicament. So what is Ian Beale after?

Even though Ian Beale has been discussing the situation with his daughter Lucy, and they have hatched a plan to exert as much money from the Mitchell family is possible, we are nowhere near finding out exactly what he is really after. Is he after the Queen Vic? Is he after Phil’s businesses? Or is he playing games with the Mitchell family?

Ian Beale helping Phil Mitchell must be one of the most bizarre storylines ever seen in Eastenders!