EastEnders legend rushed to hospital with chest pains a year after devastating heart attack

AN iconic EastEnders character is set to be rushed to hospital with chest pains in upcoming scenes.

It comes a year after the iconic BBC soap character suffered a devastating heart attack.

4

4

4

Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) debuted in 1985, during the show's first-ever episode.

Fans were left terrified for Ian's future last June after he had a heart attack.

The character's health is set to be revisited in scenes yet to be aired on screen.

Ian takes charge of the Walford’s Christmas lights switch-on, and asks Cindy (Michelle Collins) to help him prepare for the evening festivities.

Read more on EastEnders

fan demand

EastEnders fans beg bosses to bring back iconic character for 40th anniversary

dream team

Bradley Walsh announces huge new project away from The Chase with two soap stars

However, it soon becomes clear that Ian has bitten off more than he can chew.

He suffers chest pain at No 45, forcing mum Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) to call him an ambulance.

As doctors advise Ian to take it easy, Kathy tells him that Cindy is to blame for his stress.

Later, he hides the truth of what happened from Cindy - despite Kathy's wishes.

Most read in Soaps

NAKED TRUTH

Watch the moment Joe Swash strips naked as Mickey Miller in EastEnders

GRAVE DISCOVERY

Belle Dingle makes shock discovery about ‘dead’ Piper in Emmerdale

SHE'S WORTH IT

Gail Platt’s exit storyline revealed as she leaves Corrie on Christmas Day

gone girl

Coronation Street star ‘disappears’ as fans complain ‘we’ve seen the dog more'

Ian is later alarmed at No. 41 when he finds a jewellery box in Cindy’s pocket.

What will come of this discovery?

The soap legend's devastating heart attack last year was immediately surrounded by other bombshells.

Viewers found out that Cindy - who had just returned after being seemingly dead for two decades - had gone by the name "Rose Knight" while under witness protection.

This meant she was the long-lost mother to Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry), who'd just moved to Square.

Before everyone was reunited on-screen, Ian and Cindy had been living together in France - and had an argument about the situation.

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock...

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) - Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly's drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) - In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale's first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke's rape (2000) - Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs - who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) - Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

As Cindy stormed into the bathroom, she didn't see Ian had clutched his chest.

She thankfully realised he was having a heart attack and managed to call an ambulance.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

SAD DEATH

Tragedy as 'baby Abbie' snatched from hospital as a newborn dies aged 30

Cryptic clue

I'm A Celeb's Coleen Rooney hints at camp feud with cryptic comment

How will Ian's renewed health concerns play into ongoing storylines?

EastEnders continues on BBC One and iPlayer.

4