Ian Beale

Ian Beale
EastEnders character
Portrayed byAdam Woodyatt
Duration1985–present
First appearanceEpisode 1
"Poor Old Reg"
19 February 1985 (1985-02-19)
ClassificationPresent; regular
Created byTony Holland
Introduced byJulia Smith (1985)
Chris Clenshaw (2022)
Spin-off
appearances
In-universe information
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • Chef
  • Pub landlord
  • Councillor
  • Caterer
FamilyBeale
FatherPete Beale
MotherKathy Beale
StepfatherPhil Mitchell
Gavin Sullivan
Tom "Rocky" Cotton
Half-brothersDavid Wicks
Ben Mitchell
Half-sistersDonna Ludlow
WifeCindy Williams (1989–1997)
Mel Healy (1999–2001)
Laura Dunn (2001–2004)
Jane Collins (2007–2011, 2015–2020)
Sharon Watts (2020–2021)
SonsPeter Beale
Bobby Beale
DaughtersLucy Beale
Adoptive sonsSteven Beale
StepsonsAlbie Watts
GrandsonsLouie Beale
GrandfathersAlbert Beale
Dennis Hills
GrandmothersLou Beale
Brenda Hills
UnclesHarry Beale
Ronnie Beale
Kenny Beale
Ted Hills
Colin Hills
Johnathan Hills
AuntsMaggie Flaherty
Norma Beale
Pauline Fowler
Stephanie Hills
NephewsJoe Wicks
NiecesBianca Jackson
Karen Wicks
Lexi Pearce
First cousinsEamonn Flaherty
Tommy Flaherty
John Flaherty
Conor Flaherty
Elizabeth Beale
Mark Fowler
Michelle Fowler
Martin Fowler
Tony Hills
Sarah Hills
Other relativesKenneth Beale
Colette Flaherty
Eamonn Flaherty Jnr
Declan Flaherty
Kylie Flaherty
Carl Flaherty
Mary Flaherty
Natasha Butcher
Liam Butcher
Tiffany Butcher
Morgan Butcher
Vicki Fowler
Mark Fowler Jnr
Bex Fowler
Hope Fowler
Lulu Fowler
Betty Beale
Flo Medeemey
Doris Miller
Elsie Medeemey
Terence Medeemey
Queenie Medeemey
Liz Medeemey
Nora
Nellie Ellis

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 (Gilian Taylforth), Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Tracey (Jane Slaughter). The character appeared in his 2,000th episode in the show on 26 March 2007,[1] and his 3,000th on 27 May 2016.[2] Woodyatt took an extended break from EastEnders on 22 January 2021.[3][4] He made appearances on 12 December 2022 and 22 June 2023, prior to a full-time return on 22 August.

Ian is the most-married character in EastEnders history, with six marriages to five women: Cindy Williams (Michelle Collins), Mel Healy (Tamzin Outhwaite), Laura Dunn (Hannah Waterman), twice to Jane Collins (Laurie Brett), and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), and two aborted engagements to Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) and Denise Fox (Diane Parish). He has fathered three children (Peter, Lucy and Bobby), raised Cindy's son Steven Beale (who he believed to be his) and was the guardian of Cindy's youngest daughter, Cindy Jr. Ian is the owner of 45 Albert Square, traditionally represented within the series as the family home of the Beale and Fowler family, and in 2020, he bought The Queen Victoria public house for Sharon.

  1. ^ McGarry, Lisa (4 April 2007). "Eastenders: Ian Beale Chalks Up 2000 Episodes!". Unreality TV. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  2. ^ "BBC EastEnders". Facebook. Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  3. ^ "EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt says that Ian Beale may not return". Digitalspy.com. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  4. ^ Lindsay, Duncan (26 October 2021). "EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt delays Ian Beale's return until at least May".