EastEnders SPOILER: Ian Beale is visited by Sharon Watts in his hour of need as unpopular chippy owner recovers from mystery attack
Ian Beale will be comforted by an old friend as he continues his slow recovery from a mysterious attack in Tuesday’s edition of EastEnders.
The unpopular chip shop owner was admitted to hospital after being found unconscious in the Queen Vic by Sharon Watts following an apparent beating at the hands of an unknown assailant.
And it is supportive Sharon rather than one of Ian’s many enemies who visits him in his hour of need as he recuperates from the violent episode, much to his obvious relief.
Close: Ian Beale will be comforted by old friend Sharon Watts as he continues his slow recovery from a mysterious attack in Tuesday’s edition of EastEnders
Actor Adam Woodyat, who plays Ian, is set to temporarily leave EastEnders in 2021 to star in the stage production of Looking Good Dead by Peter James.
His latest storlyline, a whodunnit with a lengthy list of suspects, will extend beyond the festive period as viewers eventually discover what happened before the unconscious businessman was discovered by Sharon.
Fans have already been given one piece of the jigsaw, with Albert Square regular Tina Carter claiming Ian lashed out at her shortly before he was attacked, leaving her with a split lip.
Squaring off: Ian has made plenty of enemies in the square, among them Max Branning, but the identity of his attacker is yet to be established
Speaking to sister Shirley about the incident, which left her covered in blood, she said: ‘Things flared up in the Square so I followed him into the house.
‘Things got heated and I hit him and he hit me, I wasn’t going to stand for it so I went for him.
‘He tripped and he fell and he hit the table. He was dazed when I left the house. Supposing he left the house and went to the Vic and passed out…’
Clues: Fans have already been given one piece of the jigsaw, with Albert Square regular Tina Carter claiming Ian lashed out at her shortly before he was attacked, leaving her with a split lip
Unpopular: However, the true identity of Ian’s assailant will remain a closely guarded secret until Christmas
However, the true identity of Ian’s assailant will remain a closely guarded secret until Christmas.
A source said: ‘People are queuing up to cave Ian’s head in. As far as legendary EastEnders characters go, Ian is up there with the best so this storyline will leave viewers shocked.
‘He has no shortage of enemies so exactly who attacked him and left him for dead will be the focus of the weeks that follow.’
EastEnders airs on Tuesday 8th December at 7:25pm on BBC One.