EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has confirmed that Adam Woodyatt will be reprising his role as Ian Beale.
Ian left Walford under a cloud in January 2021, but made a brief appearance at Dot Branning's funeral in December last year.
Tonight's episode (June 21) saw Cindy Beale unveiled as George's missing wife Rose in a major twist, and Ian will be making his return alongside her. Michelle Collins is returning to the role after 25 years.
Related: Here's why EastEnders hasn't been released early on iPlayer
Speaking at a recent EastEnders press event, Adam said: "Working with Michelle has been like putting on an old pair of slippers. It’s comfortable. It just works.
"The weirdest thing for me that since I’ve been gone they’ve rebuilt the Lot. I got out of the car yesterday morning and gone ‘Where’s the Square?’ It’s just disappeared.
"The nicest thing is just going back to see all the faces. The first day it must have taken half a day to say hello to everyone. I’m amazed we got anything filmed that first morning because I was just chatting."
Ian was seen on the phone to a mystery recipient during his brief return in December, and the identity of the other caller has now been revealed as Cindy.
Adam explained: "When we did Dot’s funeral, it really was need to know. There were eight people – all the heads of department – and they came out and did that shot.
"I flew back from doing My Fair Lady, landed on the Monday, shot it on the Tuesday morning and flew to my daughter’s wedding on the Wednesday."
Related: 16 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week
"No one knew, and while we were filming it Mark – the sound guy – just looked at me and went ‘you know’. I said, 'yes but I’m not telling you. I’m brilliant at keeping secrets. I was one of the few people who knew who killed Lucy."
The actor also hinted that there will be one Walford resident Ian needs to avoid once he returns.
"It’s weird saying Ian’s back as it never really felt like he was gone, Ian still existed just not in Walford," he explained. "Now that he is back, he needs to avoid Sharon cooking carbonara and his mum getting him cufflinks for Christmas!”
Fans should tune in to tomorrow's extended episode (June 22) for more details on Ian's return and a few more surprises.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Request video message from past EastEnders stars
One of Them: From Albert Square to Parliament Square by Michael Cashman
BBC EastEnders: Christmas Specials collection
Deputy Soaps Editor
Sophie is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience as a writer. Previously at BT.com, where she had her own Reality TV column, Sophie joined the Digital Spy soaps team in 2013 and won the Unsung Hero of the Year award at the PPA Awards in 2022.
Over the years, she has written hundreds of articles about the Carters, the Dingles and even Wellard the dog, and has created a number of the site's video franchises. Sophie hosted Digital Spy's first ever podcast 'Soap Scoop' back in 2020, where she spoke to the likes of Alan Fletcher (aka Doctor Karl) and Lisa Riley, has been interviewed on on podcasts and live radio and has represented the company on the panel of the British Soap Awards.
