text: EastEnders spoilers: Ian Beale's big exit storyline revealed | Metro News
  Duncan LindsayThursday 26 Nov 2020 9:00 am
  EastEnders without Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) is unthinkable for many but for the locals of Walford, it's not looking like too bad a prospect – as someone sets out to kill the manipulative and scheming businessman.
  Ian, who has been in the show since day one, is taking an extended screen break as Adam makes a temporary goodbye. And his big plotline will centre on a major whodunit when one of Ian's enemies strikes out at him and leaves him for dead.
  Since lockdown, Ian has been upsetting a lot of people and betraying even members of his own family to keep his head above water. And pre-lockdown, he wasn't exactly on his best behaviour either as he lied to Sharon (Letitia Dean) about the true nature of her son Dennis' death.
  Next week, Bobby's (Clay Milner Russell) long awaited Lucy Beale Foundation Project gets underway but it's Ian who steals the limelight as he uses the platform to get one over on Max Branning (Jake Wood) – who has been demanding his money back from Ian.
  Ian has attempted to put Max in his place by revealing that he knows he and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) shared a kiss but Max isn't one to back off and soon warns Ian that he will kill him if he doesn't put things right.
  But it's not Max who is smarting at Ian – Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Peter (Dayle Hudson) have all but disowned him after his callous treatment and his one remaining ally, Bobby, will soon see him in a new light.
  He has also made enemies of Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) and the very sinister Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), which is something that would keep us awake at night.
  As Ian makes an announcement at the Lucy Beale Foundation and then is arrested after taking shocking action, he finds himself out on bail, lashing out at enemies – which also include Rainie and Stuart Highway (Tanya Franks and Ricky Champ).
  But when he is dealt a heavy blow in a darkened Queen Vic, it's lights out for Ian. But will he wake up to identify his attacker – or will a long term coma mean this is a mystery that will keep us guessing into the next year?