{"id":26985,"date":"2022-12-12T21:15:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-12T20:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1753076"},"modified":"2022-12-12T23:13:55","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T22:13:55","slug":"adam-woodyatt-makes-surprise-ian-beale-return-for-eastenders-funeral","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/adam-woodyatt-makes-surprise-ian-beale-return-for-eastenders-funeral\/","title":{"rendered":"Adam Woodyatt makes surprise Ian Beale return for EastEnders funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 12 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Adam Woodyatt has made a surprise return to EastEnders<\/a> as Ian Beale for the funeral of old friend Dot Branning<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The character was last seen in January 2021 when he left Albert Square after a dramatic showdown with former best friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) over the death of her son Dennis.<\/p>\n

In the aftermath, Ian left his family and businesses on the Square behind without much explanation, as Adam Woodyatt stepped away from the soap for the first time in over 30 years.<\/p>\n

During Monday\u2019s funeral episode (12th December 2022), as the guests for Dot\u2019s funeral arrive at the church to say their goodbyes, we see a figure watching the churchyard: Ian Beale.<\/p>

Sporting some facial hair and hiding behind trees and fencing, Ian looks on at the events and emotionally says: \u201cGoodbye, Dot.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a look of contemplation, Ian takes a call on his mobile phone and mysteriously speaks to someone he refers to as \u201clove\u201d and informs that he is now on his way \u201chome\u201d.<\/p>\n

After this, Ian swiftly departs.<\/p>\n

Describing how Ian Beale\u2019s quick return came about, executive producer Chris Clenshaw told RadioTimes.com<\/span><\/a> and other press at an event last week that Adam Woodyatt was keen to be back for the episodes.<\/p>\n

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Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Clenshaw revealed: \u201cYeah, I called Adam, told him our plans, and I said, \u2018Ian has to be there,\u2019 and he agreed. It was kind of as simple as that. Ian would not miss it. Obviously, he didn\u2019t make it into the church, but he said his own private goodbye to Dot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, yeah, that\u2019s how it came about. It was just that Adam wanted to be there for June and he knew that Ian should be there for Dot.\u201d<\/p>\n

When pressed on the identity of the person who Ian referred to as \u201clove\u201d in his phone call before heading \u201chome\u201d, Clenshaw was more secretive.<\/p>\n