Ian Beale has been jailed on EastEnders after being sentenced to eight months in prison for his involvement in an accidental hit and run that injured four-year-old Jordan Fox. The storyline has led to fears that actor Adam Woodyatt might leave the BBC One soap, but a future scene has seemingly confirmed his fate.
Why is Ian Beale in prison?
Ian was sentenced this week after appearing in court over the hit and run that left Jordan with life-changing spinal injuries, now using a wheelchair. Ian genuinely did not know he had struck Jordan with the back of his car and drove off. Chelsea Fox, Jordan's mother, was hiding her own guilt after she shouted at her son, causing him to flee into the path of the car.
Earlier this week, Ian had asked Chelsea to help him in court hoping for a more lenient verdict, but he was told he would go straight to jail.
Is Ian Beale leaving EastEnders?
It seems not. A flashforward episode that aired in January was set on New Year's Day 2027 and featured Ian heavily, showing him definitely not in jail. With his eight-month sentence starting in July, he will be out by January 1, meaning he does not serve the full term.
Ian will also come face-to-face with killer Gray Atkins in prison, as Gray and his gran Sheila have a mystery plan involving Chelsea and Jordan. New spoilers will reveal more, but for now Ian remains on the show despite being locked up, as confirmed by the flashforward episode months ago.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
