EastEnders has confirmed a dark turn for killer Gray Atkins as he reunites with jailbird Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). Gray (Toby-Alexander Smith) is locked up for triple murder but is fixated on worming his way back into the life of his four-year-old son, Jordan Fox (Jahsaiah Williams).
It was a great surprise for Gray to reunite with his old Walford neighbor Ian, who is serving eight months for accidentally knocking Jordan down with his car, leaving the young boy wheelchair-bound. Gray has also been using his grandmother, Sheila Atkins (Sheila Ruskin), to manipulate Chelsea to get closer to Jordan, and it has worked.
Chelsea's Appeal and Gray's Proposal
On Thursday (July 30), Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) continued the fight to free Ian in an appeal after admitting she was also to blame for her son Jordan's accident. Meanwhile, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) visited Ian in prison for the first time but refused to tell him about the appeal to avoid raising his hopes of being released. She casually shrugged off Ian's worries about being locked up as he told his mum that Chelsea is more to blame for Jordan's accident, a seed planted by Gray.
Later, the serial killer proposed a deal to protect Ian in prison, in return for helping him take revenge on Chelsea. In a tense scene, Gray explained: "Chelsea did us both wrong; she's not fit to bring up my son." As Ian bears a frightened expression, Gray adds: "You are in a position to make her pay… With me guiding you, you are." The villain then declares: "Do you know what the best feeling is to wake up to in here? Revenge" Ian is then put in a grave predicament.
Ian Beale's Future Confirmed
Despite the drama and fear surrounding Ian Beale, it has been revealed that the Walford legend is not leaving the show after 41 years. In a special episode that aired on BBC One in January, the clock jumped forward to New Year's Day 2027, where Max Branning (Jake Wood) was potentially getting married to an unknown fiancée, and Ian was his best man. The flashforward confirmed that Ian is a free man by January 1, 2027, and he does not get killed by Gray or serve his full eight-month prison sentence.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
