Everyone reading the EEB (Eastenders Blog) truly enjoyed our peice on Letitia (Be still my foolish heart!) Dean. Response was such that I have decided to continue the theme with a character portrait at least once a week. Eastenders has become a blend of the old and the new so what better way to follow the progress of the various Walford families than a look into some of the movers and shakers of Albert Square. This week we will shine our literary spotlight on Ian Beale.

There is but one original debut Eastenders Cast member left in the show and that of course is Ian Beale. Ian is played by famed Brit actor Adam Woodyatt.
Adam is true EastEnder by birth that birthday being June 28th 1968. He now lives in Warwickshire with his wife of ten years , Beverly and their two children. Adam loves science fiction and Liverpool football. Adam has been Ian for over 2000 performances. I wonder if after almost 25 years playing the character if he can tell where Adam ends and Ian begins?

Ian Beale first appeared as a mop top teenager in the first episodes of EE. He was initially meant to be a sensitive and caring sort. Ian’s father Pete thought him a bit of a Nancy Boy when Ian developed an affinity for cooking. Of course Ian’s success in life is found as a chef, resteuranteur and caterer.

Mind you Ian has always liked the ladies some years going better for him than others. In the early days he had crushes on Sharon Watts, Tina Hopkins and Donna Ludlow. Donna turned out tobe his half sister. The steam is still coming off those episodes!

Ian has owned famed Albert Square eaterie The Bridge Street Cafe off and on since the beginning. The title to the cafe sliding in and out of his hands. Ian’s first wife Cindy was a waitress for hoim and together they had two children, twins Peter and Lucy.
( Yes the same Lucy that is missing currently.)

Ian next married Melanie Healy in a complicated plot twist that had Melanie clearing out just seconds after the “I dos”.

I suppose my favorite Ian Beale wife was Laura Dunn. Yes, Ian married the nanny! Laura was portrayed as a dowdy type but fiercely loyal to Ian. The truth is actress, Hannah Waterman had to continually downplay her stunning good looks. Alas Laura Dunn nee Beale died with a simple trip down the stairs.

Currently Ian is onto his fourth wife Jane. Let’s hope this ones a keeper.

Much of the rises and falls of Ian’s life revolve around his constant feud with Phil Mitchell. A few years ago I would have portrayed them as arch rivals but time has changed their relationship to that of simply old foes with too many battles forgotten.

60 years ago Ian Beale would have been written of as a “Sad Sack”, the kind of fellow who suffers and suffers as decades pass. But as one looks back at Ian and his progression from teenage worry to adult worrier it becomes clear who Ian Beale is.
Ian Beale is the original and quintessential EastEnder. There is constant turmoil in his life most of which is self inflicted. He is a good man (Now at least) who usually chooses the lie over the truth. This is of course is always the cause of his misery.
Still what is EastEnders sans Ian Beale? While he is no longer the behind the scenes puppeteer of his glory days, Ian still serves us well as past brought forward to the present. For Eastenders Ian Beale is our old school tie.