“After 41 Years, Is This Really Goodbye?” — Ian’s Future Appears Sealed As He Makes A Life-Changing Decision

This article contains spoilers from tonight’s episode of EastEnders, which is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Despite his best efforts, Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) desperate legal battle to stay out of prison in EastEnders is finally coming to an end – and he’s losing.

Ian is more slippery than a greasy spoon from Kathy’s cafe.

Since arriving on Albert Square over four decades ago, the Albert Square legend has got himself into some serious scrapes. Covering up the murder of his own daughter Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) to protect his monstrous son Bobby, accidentally sending Dennis Rickman to Davy Jones’ locker by accidentally trapping him in below dink on a sinking ship and his constant rivals with the Mitchells – not to mention six marriages to five women.

This time however, Bealey’s bitten off more than he can chew, and there’s no escaping the consequences.

On the fateful night of Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) and Ross Marshall’s (Alex Walkinshaw) wedding, Ian was behind the wheel when Jordan Fox’s (Izaiah Hagan-Brown) ran out in front of his car. This resulted in a devastating accident which left the poor boy with life-changing injuries.

Quite understandably, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) wants just for her son – and Ian behind bars. Since it has come to light that Ian had a drink at the wedding, she might very well get her wish if the legendary Walford resident is found guilty of dangerous driving.

Ian might not be totally responsible. Since Chelsea caused Jordan to bolt out into the road by screaming at him, she has expressed some guilt over her part in the accident.

However, in textbook Beale style, Ian refuses to take any accountability at all, insisting that it was just ‘an accident’.

That all changes in tonight’s episode, when a harsh reality check along with the advice of his fellow EastEnders, force him to confront his bleak situation and make a difficult choice.

The episode begins with Ian, Peter (Thomas Law) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) having a consultation with Ian’s lawyer, Mister Get-Out, a sharp legal mind know for helping his clients do just that. However, Mister Get-Put’s got some bad news for Ian – even under a careless driving charge, he still could receive a maximum sentence of two years. Get Out’s advice for Ian? Plead guilty.

Ian is obviously not a fan of that suggestion. But Peter implores him to consider the advice for the sake of his family and accept the sentence.’I am on your side!” Peter insists. “Do you think I want to see my dad behind bars for a single second? No! Without the family? Without the boys’?” But despite Peter’s pleas to think of the boys, Ian refuses to go down without a fight.

Kathy, however, tells Ian exactly the oppsoite – to fight this all the way and do what he thinks is right. Ian’s left with no idea what to do.

With no idea what to do, Ian confides in an unlikely ally – his longtime rival and frenemy, Elain Peacock (Harriet Thorpe). Despairing, Ian admits his regret over missing out on so much time with his son Louie, he can’t do the same with Jimmy.

Elaine gives it to Ian straight. ‘The idea of prison terrifies me.’ she admits. ‘Especially being away from my family. I can’t tell you what to do. But I promise I will support you, whatever you decide.’

While Elaine leaves Ian with food for thought, Ian doesn’t get his turning point until he ill-advisedly decides to appeal to Chelsea directly, just asDenise Fox (Diane Parish) is coming home from hospital. He begs Chelsea to admit why Jordan was in the road that day.

Denise soon stops Ian in his tracks and accuses him of only thinking about himself while his entire family is going through hell.

Ian does his best to appeal to Denise’s sense of mercy, insisting that he could go to prison for years, and asks how that is fair.

What Ian doesn’t know, is that Denise has just found out that her cancer isn’t responding to treatment, a fact that she has decided to hide from her family. So Ian is talking about fairness to entirely the wrong person.

‘Fair? Life isn’t fair Ian.’ Denise insists. ‘You play the cards you’re dealt. Believe me, I would swap places with you in a heartbeat.’

Turning away accompanied by her family, Denise leaves Ian with some serious food for thought.

And at the end of the episode, it seems Ian has finally come to a decision when Peter and Kathy find him outside brooding on a bench. With tears in his eyes, Ian decides to do the right thing and asserts that little Jordan deserves justice.

‘I need to do the right thing’, Ian sobs. ‘I don’t want Jimmy and Louie being ashamed of me. I’m going to plead guilty. I’m going to prison’.

Ian Beale accepting responsibility for the consequences of his actions? Surely EastEnders is stretching the realms of believability…