Ian Beale

Ian Beale is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Related Topics:
BBC - Soap opera - EastEnders

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He is played by Adam Woodyatt, one of the two remaining original cast members.

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Ian is the son of Kathy and Pete Beale, the father of Lucy, Peter and Bobby Beale, the nephew of Pauline Fowler and cousin to Mark, Michelle and Martin.

Related Topics:
Pauline Fowler - Mark

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Ian's three marriages have brought little happiness. He first married Cindy Williams, the mother of his children Lucy and Peter. He proposed because he thought she was carrying his baby but Steven's biological father was actually Simon Wicks. After their marriage she left Ian for Simon, but he tracked her down and they got back together again. During her subsequent affair with Wicksy's brother David Wicks, Cindy hired a hitman and had Ian shot, but he later recovered. Cindy later went to prison and then died from natural causes off screen, although we witnessed her funeral, it has recently been speculated that Cindy is in a Witness protection programme and may return, though this now seems unlikely.

Related Topics:
David Wicks - Witness protection programme

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Ian then proposed to Melanie Healy. When she got cold feet, Ian lied that his daughter Lucy had a terminal illness. The ploy worked until his wedding night, when Melanie found out the truth and left Ian.

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Laura Dunn had originally been hired as a nanny for his children but they eventually fell for each other. Laura even forgave him when he slept with then prostitute Janine Butcher. Laura had an overwhelming desire for a child and ended their marriage after a drunken fling with Garry Hobbs. Ian's secret vasectomy convinced him that baby Bobby was Garry Hobbs' son; however, after Laura's fatal fall down the stairs in April 2004, a DNA test proved Bobby was really Ian's.

Related Topics:
Janine Butcher - DNA test

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Ian has a longstanding rivalry with Phil Mitchell, whose favourite pastime is to flush Ian's head down the toilet. This dates from Phil marrying Ian's mum Kathy Beale and then proceeding to destroy both their lives with his alcoholism. Most recently Ian tricked Phil into thinking he was helping him escape, instead going to the police and having him arrested.

Related Topics:
Phil Mitchell - Kathy Beale

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