EASTENDERS fans have been left baffled after one character appeared to go missing from the soap.
Viewers of the show were left scratching their heads when Ian Beale failed to return from his trip away to the States.
Ian had headed Stateside with his mother Kathy to visit his brother Ben who was banged up in the country earlier this year.
Ben found himself locked up as part of a fraud case with Ian and Kathy making the trip to check in on him and as a way to explain their character’s absences over the last few weeks.
The pair took Ben’s daughter with them, Lexi, but when Kathy returned Ian was nowhere to be found.
During a catch-up with a newly-engaged Sonia Fowler, Kathy spilled all on the recent prison-based trip.
Kathy said to Sonia: “Well, [Lexi] was putting on a brave face for him you know. Telling him all about the American sweets we picked up at the airport.”
She went on to add of Ian’s current whereabouts: “Ian decided to stay another week you know, to try and sort things out. I told Cindy but I could swear she was thrilled not to have him home.”
However, Kathy’s words were quick to hit a nerve with EastEnders fans who were left baffled by Ian’s decision.
They quickly called out how Ian and Ben had barely spent any time with each other on the Square and did not have a close sibling bond.
It came as a surprise that Ian had decided to stay out there to support him even though he wasn’t around for him much in Walford.
Writing online, one fan said: “Ian staying to help Ben, even though Ben’s never given two s***s about him.”
Another jokingly asked as a result of his disappearance: “Is Ian Beale still in EastEnders?”
Recent spoilers confirmed that Ian would be sticking around in the US in order to find him a better lawyer.
EastEnders viewers were left furious by the fallout of Ben’s exit at the time, claiming the character had been ‘forgotten’.
Passionate fans noted how Callum and daughter Lexi hadn’t mentioned him being missing too much.
Quick to comment, one wrote: “Callum isn’t very upset over Ben, I expected some heartfelt missing him emotion and sadness #EastEnders @bbceastenders even him taking time to compose and take it in.”
Another added: “I feel like Callum has totally got over Ben & his sentencing.
“He seems way too normal for someone who has lost his husband to 6 years in prison on the other side of the world.”
Real-life soap couples
Soaps are renowned for their sweet and scandalous romances – but it's not just in scripted storylines where love is blossoming. A number of our favourite small-screen actors have fallen for co-stars and soapland rivals when the cameras have stopped rolling.
Max Parker and Kris Mochrie
- Despite playing brothers Luke and Lee Posner on Emmerdale, the pair never actually shared any scenes together. But the pair still fell in love after meeting on set. Max and Kris got together in 2020, moving in together later than same year and got engaged in 2022. In a sweet Instagram post, the couple confirmed they’re planning a 2025 wedding.
Beth Cordingly and Ian Kelsey
- Beth, who plays Ruby Fox-Miligan, announced her love for her co-star Ian Kelsey, who played Dean Glover, shortly after she joined Emmerdale at the beginning of 2024. “I am very in love with Ian and very happy. I think it really does work him being an actor too. He has been so fantastic,” she gushed.
Laura Norton and Mark Jordan
- Kerry Wyatt and Daz Eden actors Laura and Mark met on the set of Emmerdale in 2014. The couple, who got engaged in 2018, told Loose Women they spent a long time deciding whether they should “just stay as friends.” Although it seems they were meant to be and the pair now share two children together.
Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley
- Emmerdale favourites Zoe and Jeff, who play Rhonda Goskirk and Cain Dingle met at drama college in 1994 and have been together ever since. While working together might be too much for some couples, that’s definitely not the case for Zoe and Jeff. Zoe previously told The Sun: “Working on the same show as Jeff also helps because if one of us is having a bad day then the other will completely understand.”
Lesley Dunlop and Chris Chittell
- Lesley and Chris are another Dales romantic success story. Unlike some of the other soap stars, the pair who play Brenda Walker and Eric Pollard, are together on and off screen, officially tying the knot in 2016. They also adore working together, but have clear home-work boundaries. “We make a point of not talking about Emmerdale when we’re at home, though – that would be just too sad, wouldn’t it?” Chris revealed.
Sally Carman and Joe Duttine
- Abi Franklin and Tim Metcalfe actors Sally and Joe got together after meeting on the set of Coronation Street in 2017 and they tied the knot in July 2022. But unlike some of the Emmerdale stars, Sally and Joe prefer that their characters don’t interact much. Sally previously admitted it “would be horrendous” to work on a storyline with Joe because “he’s too funny.”
Anthony Cotton and Peter Eccleston
- Sean Tully may have been unlucky in love on the cobbles, but in real life Antony’s met his Prince Charming. The soap star started dating long-term partner Peter in 2005, after they met when he was working as an assistant props buyer on Corrie.
Jane Danson and Robert Beck
- Corrie favourite Jane Danson tied the knot with soap star Robert Beck in 2005. The actress, who plays Leanne Battersby, shares two children, Harry and Sam, with the former Brookside star. During their marriage, Robert has also done a stint in Weatherfield playing criminal Jimmy Dockerson.
Caroline Harding and Chris Gascoyne
- Chris, who played pub landlord Peter Barlow, married soap star Caroline in 2002. Although she is best known as an Emmerdale star, Caroline did visit her husband at work when she did a two-episode stint as doctor on the Manchester soap in 2020. The couple share a daughter called Belle, plus two children, Pip and Freddie from Caroline’s previous marriage.
Nadine Mulkerrin and Rory Douglas Speed
- Nadine Mulkerrin, and Rory Doulas Speed are known for their Hollyoaks alter egos Cleo McQueen and Joel Dexter. The loved-up pair got engaged on a December 2018 trip to Amsterdam – just over a year after they announced they were dating. They now share two kids, Reggie and Dougie.
Sophie Austin and Shayne Ward
- Former Hollyoaks star Sophie, whose best known for playing villain Lindsay Butterfield, was introduced to singer and ex-Corrie star Shayne through mutual friends. She gave birth to their daughter Willow in December 2016 and they welcomed a son in 2022.
