EastEnders airs worrying Ian Beale scenes as he returns to Walford in early BBC iPlayer release

Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) may never be the same again in EastEnders.

He's just been released from prison after months behind bars. As soap fans know, he accidentally knocked over Jordan Fox (Jahsaiah Williams) with his car, which resulted in the youngster requiring the use of a wheelchair.

His lawyer had advised that, if Ian pleaded guilty, it was likely that he'd receive a custodial sentence. Feeling like there was no other option, he decided to take the risk and hope that the judge considered his admission of wrongdoing in a favourable manner.

There was only one person who could help him – Jordan's mum, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams). She initially took some responsibility for not watching over her son and allowing him to run away, though later changed her stance when she learnt the extent of his injuries.

Unfortunately, she couldn't get to the court in time and he was sent down. During his stretch, Chelsea's murderous ex Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) blackmailed him into luring her to the prison visiting room.

This was so that his grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskin) could make an attempt at kidnapping Jordan. In a later scuffle, Ian stabbed Gray in self defence and it was presumed that his sentence would be lengthened.

Fortunately, this wasn't the case, and in today's episode, his mum Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) asked her partner Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) to take charge of a health inspection at Ian's chippy so that she could focus on her son's wellbeing.

Harvey soon became distracted by his ex-girlfriend Jean Slater's (Gillian Wright) granddaughter Lily (Lillia Turner), who wanted him to look after her daughter Charli while she attended a career open day.

When Ian went to the chippy himself, he noticed that it was closed. The market traders were all staring at him, still not forgiving for what he did to Jordan.

Kathy hoped that a drink at The Vic would lift his spirits, but upon running into Harvey, an argument ensued. Ian went to leave and turned quickly, knocking straight into Harvey's face.

Later, at home, he sobbed into his mum's arms.

Will Ian be ok?

Read more:

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• EastEnders star teases "fire and carnage" when Penny Branning's baby paternity secret is revealed
• EastEnders favourite Balvinder Sopal teases Ash return is "grenade" to the Panesar family unit this autumn
• EastEnders announces hard-hitting Amy Mitchell storyline as BBC soap works with charities

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Authors

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.