Ian Beale

In-universe information
In-universe information
Occupation	Student ; Boxer ; Chef ; Businessman ; Cashier ; Landlord ; Politician ; Councillor ; Caterer
Family	Beale/Watts
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
Adoptive daughters	Cindy Williams Jnr (ward)
Stepsons	Albie Watts
Grandsons	Louie Beale ; Jimmy Beale
Grandfathers	Albert Beale
Grandmothers	Lou Beale
Uncles	Harry Beale ; Ronnie Beale ; Kenny Beale ; Ted Hills
Aunts	Maggie Flaherty ; Pauline Fowler
Nephews	Joe Wicks
Nieces	Bianca Jackson ; Lexi Pearce
First cousins	Eamonn Flaherty ; John Flaherty ; Conor Flaherty ; Elizabeth Beale ; Mark Fowler ; Michelle Fowler ; Martin Fowler ; Tony Hills ; Sarah Hills
Other relatives	Mary Flaherty ; Vicki Fowler ; Mark Fowler Jnr

Ian Beale
Ian Beale
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Adam Woodyatt
Duration	1985–present
First appearance	Episode 1 ; "Poor Old Reg" ; 19 February 1985
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) ; Race Across Yorkshire (2023) ; Tracey: A Day in the Life (2024)
Occupation	Student ; Boxer ; Chef ; Businessman ; Cashier ; Landlord ; Politician ; Councillor ; Caterer
In-universe information
Occupation	Student ; Boxer ; Chef ; Businessman ; Cashier ; Landlord ; Politician ; Councillor ; Caterer
Family	Beale/Watts
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
Adoptive daughters	Cindy Williams Jnr (ward)
Stepsons	Albie Watts
Grandsons	Louie Beale ; Jimmy Beale
Grandfathers	Albert Beale
Grandmothers	Lou Beale
Uncles	Harry Beale ; Ronnie Beale ; Kenny Beale ; Ted Hills
Aunts	Maggie Flaherty ; Pauline Fowler
Nephews	Joe Wicks
Nieces	Bianca Jackson ; Lexi Pearce
First cousins	Eamonn Flaherty ; John Flaherty ; Conor Flaherty ; Elizabeth Beale ; Mark Fowler ; Michelle Fowler ; Martin Fowler ; Tony Hills ; Sarah Hills
Other relatives	Mary Flaherty ; Vicki Fowler ; Mark Fowler Jnr

Ian Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Adam Woodyatt. He is one of four remaining original characters, the others being his mother, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), his long standing best friend and ex-wife, Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Queen Vic barmaid, Tracey (Jane Slaughter). The character appeared in his 2000th episode in the show on 26 March 2007, and his 3,000th on 27 May 2016. Woodyatt left EastEnders on 22 January 2021. He made guest appearances on 12 December 2022 and 22 June 2023, prior to a full-time return on 22 August of that year. Ian is the longest-serving regular EastEnders character, and second overall, behind only Tracey.

Ian is the most-married character in EastEnders history, with six marriages to five women: Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), Mel Owen (Tamzin Outhwaite), Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman), twice to Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), and Sharon, and three aborted engagements to Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton), Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Cindy respectively. He has fathered three children (Peter; played by Thomas Law, Lucy; played by Hetti Bywater, and Bobby Beale; played by Clay Milner Russell), raised Cindy's son Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), who he believed to be his, and was the guardian of Cindy's daughter, Cindy Williams (Mimi Keene). Ian is the owner of 45 Albert Square, traditionally represented within the series as the family home of the Beale and Fowler family. In 2020, he bought The Queen Victoria public house for Sharon, leaving after she poisoned him in revenge for his involvement in Dennis Rickman's (Bleu Landau) death on EastEnders' 35th anniversary.

Upon his return in 2023, he returns to 45 Albert Square reunited with his first wife Cindy after reuniting off-screen the year prior, who was going by the pseudonym "Rose Knight", after faking her death 25 years prior in a witness protection scheme due to giving information about her criminal inmate, Jackie Ford. After Cindy's witness protection officer reveals that Jackie has died, Cindy resumes her former life. In Christmas 2024, Cindy's affair with Junior Knight is revealed and he is a suspect in the "Who Attacked Cindy?" storyline for the show's 40th anniversary.