Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) starts preparing to leave Walford in next week’s EastEnders as he comes to terms with the possibility that his time on the Square could be ending. After deciding to plead guilty, Ian tries to make peace with what’s ahead and agrees to head out for one last drink with his family.
However, the evening ends with Ian questioning Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) over a secret he thinks she’s keeping from him. Ian has had a difficult few weeks after finding himself at the centre of a police investigation, and recent events have left him believing prison could soon become a reality.
Final night out
With the plea hearing looming, Ian starts to forgive himself and accepts an invitation to go out for drinks the following evening, which could be his last night in Walford for some time. The Beales gather at Harry’s Barn to mark the occasion, hoping to enjoy one final evening together before Ian’s future is decided.
The mood shifts when Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) arrives and questions why everyone is celebrating. As the awkward atmosphere grows, Ian leaves the bar, with Lauren following after him. Back inside, Peter Beale (Thomas Law) stays behind to defend his dad, while Lauren catches up with Ian away from the rest of the family. It’s then that Ian catches her off guard by asking whether she’s hiding something.
Emotional week for the Beales
The latest scenes follow an emotional week for the Beales. Ian was recently told by his solicitor that his best chance was to plead guilty at his upcoming hearing, advice that Peter and Lauren both encouraged him to accept. Kathy, however, was convinced he should continue fighting the case and urged him to plead not guilty instead.
Unsure what to do, Ian sought advice from Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) before making one last attempt to change the outcome. He approached Chelsea and asked if she would reconsider her statement, but Denise Fox (Diane Parish) quickly stepped in, ordering him to leave before making her feelings on the situation crystal clear.
Family barbecue tension
Realising he’d run out of options, Ian returned home and broke the news to his family that he intended to plead guilty. Despite trying to put on a brave face afterwards, it was obvious he was struggling. During a family barbecue, Ian attempted to keep everyone’s spirits up, but the atmosphere changed when Oscar Branning (Pierre Moullier) accidentally revealed to Louie Beale that Ian was going to prison.
The family quickly rallied around Louie, while Lauren was dealing with problems of her own after receiving an urgent call from Mark. Rushing to meet him over what she believed was a problem with their car deal, Lauren was furious to discover he’d made the whole thing up to test her loyalty.
Now, with Ian trying to make the most of what could be his final days on Albert Square before his plea hearing, questions remain over Lauren’s apparent secret. Will Ian get the answers he’s looking for before saying goodbye to Walford?
