‘EastEnders’ legend Adam Woodyatt has told fans his character Ian Beale may not be back in Walford until “2022 at the earliest”
Adam Woodyatt may not return to ‘EastEnders’ until “2022 at the earliest”.
The 52-year-old actor is currently on a break from playing bumbling businessman Ian Beale to star in theatre production ‘Looking Good Dead’, and he admitted the tour may still be on early next year – as a result of a coronavirus pandemic delay – so he may not step foot in Walford again for at least six months.
Quizzed on his Albert Square return, he said: “I don’t know. The tour runs until the end of October, my daughter is then getting married in America.
“There is a possibility the tour will carry on until early next year, so if the tour carries on I won’t be back in ‘EastEnders’ until 2022 at the earliest.”
Adam – who has played Ian since the soap began in 1985 – has been living in a motor home ahead of touring around the country with the stage production, an adaptation of Peter James’ best-selling novel, because he isn’t a fan of staying in hotels.
Speaking on ‘The One Show’, he added: “Because I’ve been doing this theatre tour, I didn’t want to stay in hotels, I’m not a great fan of it.
“I’ve got friends who spend a lot of time on the road and I just thought, ‘I’m gonna get a motor home. I can drive all over the country.’ ”
Adam recently admitted he has been “having a ball” on his break from the soap ahead of the start of tour, which was due to begin in January but was delayed until July due to COVID.
He said: “I am loving my break, I’m having a ball.
“I’m getting ready for the tour which was supposed to have started in January, then it was supposed to start in April and then it was supposed to start in June – it keeps getting knocked back.”
