21 August 2023 , 20:30
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An eagle eyed EastEnders fan has spotted a 'clue' that Ian Beale is the mystery man who ends up dead this Christmas.
Ian - played by Adam Woodyatt - is making a huge return to the BBC soap next week, as he arrives in Walford alongside Cindy Beale. The pair reconnected in France, and are back together, following Cindy's split from George Knight.
Cindy has two kids - Anna and Gina - with George Knight, but the pair had actually met when Cindy had assumed a different identity. She had put in witness protection and given the name Rose, before meeting and falling in love with George.
This Christmas, one man will find himself dead on Christmas Day, with the six matriarchs of Walford - Denise (Diane Parish), Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), Linda (Kellie Bright), Sharon (Letitia Dean), Stacey (Lacey Turner) and Suki (Balvinder Sopal) - standing around the body. But who is the man, and did he die in a tragic accident, or was he murdered?
Someone ends up dead this Christmas (EastEnders/Youtube)Fans of the BBC soap have been eagerly guessing who the man might be and some viewers are convinced it could be returning character Ian Beale, as he makes his way back to Walford next week alongside Cindy.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
One fan took to Twitter to share their theory on who the body might belong to: "What if the suit of armour in the flash forward represents... Cindy (AKA Rose Knight) and the body is Ian? It's my back-up theory anyway."
"Its going to be IAN on the floor at Christmas with the #cufflinks after an accidental hit or a heart attack. I also reckon he walks Sharon down the aisle. @bbceastenders #IanBeale," another theorised, as a third shared: "Could you imagine if it was Ian killed at Christmas." A fourth wrote: "Ian is the dead body at Christmas I just feel it in my bones #eastenders."
Adam previously quipped about the possibility of him being the dead body on the floor at Christmas.
Speaking about his return, Adam said: "It’s weird saying Ian’s back as it never really felt like he was gone, Ian still existed just not in Walford. Now that he is back, he needs to avoid Sharon cooking carbonara and his mum getting him cufflinks for Christmas!"
Chris Clenshaw, executive producer, had previously said of Cindy and Ian's return: "It’s an honour to not simply welcome back just one EastEnders icon in the name of Adam Woodyatt, but to welcome Michelle Collins back to Walford to reprise her role as the legendary Cindy Beale after twenty-five years is somewhat surreal. Cindy’s been sorely missed from our screens. We’re delighted that she’ll be returning to Walford, alongside Ian, permanently later this year."