Ian Beale

Ian Beale
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Adam Woodyatt
Duration	1985–present
First appearance	Episode 1 "Poor Old Reg" 19 February 1985 (1985-02-19)
Classification	Present; regular
Created by	Tony Holland
Introduced by	Julia Smith (1985) Chris Clenshaw (2022)
Spin-off appearances	Dimensions in Time (1993) EastEnders: E20 (2010) Last Tango in Walford (2010) The Walford Apprentice (2012) The Ghosts of Ian Beale (2014) The Queen Vic Quiz Night (2020)
In-universe information Occupation Businessman Chef Pub landlord Councillor Caterer Family Beale Father Pete Beale Mother Kathy Beale Stepfather Phil Mitchell Gavin Sullivan Tom "Rocky" Cotton Half-brothers David Wicks Ben Mitchell Half-sisters Donna Ludlow Wife Cindy Williams (1989–1997) Mel Healy (1999–2001) Laura Dunn (2001–2004) Jane Collins (2007–2011, 2015–2020) Sharon Watts (2020–2021) Sons Peter Beale Bobby Beale Daughters Lucy Beale Adoptive sons Steven Beale Stepsons Albie Watts Grandsons Louie Beale Grandfathers Albert Beale Dennis Hills Grandmothers Lou Beale Brenda Hills Uncles Harry Beale Ronnie Beale Kenny Beale Ted Hills Colin Hills Johnathan Hills Aunts Maggie Flaherty Norma Beale Pauline Fowler Dora Beale Stephanie Hills Nephews Joe Wicks Nieces Bianca Jackson Karen Wicks Lexi Pearce First cousins Eamonn Flaherty Tommy Flaherty John Flaherty Conor Flaherty Elizabeth Beale Mark Fowler Michelle Fowler Martin Fowler Tony Hills Sarah Hills Other relatives Kenneth 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.