EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt admits he doesn't miss Ian Beale

EastEnders icon Adam Woodyatt has admitted that he doesn't miss playing Ian Beale, as the actor is currently having "a fantastic time" away from Walford.

Adam, who appeared in the latest series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has offered a fairly non-committal update about his future on EastEnders, telling yesterday's (January 9) Sunday Brunch that the timing "has to got to be right" if his character ever returns.

Following his stint in Gwrych Castle last year, Adam revealed that he's enjoying his break from Albert Square. "I'm having the time of my life," he said. "I'm having a fantastic time!"

When asked when Ian Beale will be back on our screens, the soap legend conceded that he didn't know, as it's ultimately EastEnders' decision to make.

Jack Barnes//BBC

"I left because of the way the storyline was going, because Ian needed to go," he explained. "Not me going, 'I wanna leave', or them saying, 'You're going'. That was the storyline."

He continued: "They've got to come up with a storyline; they've got to ask me to go back. The timing has got to be right for me to go back, because I don't know what else I'm going to be doing."

Adam Woodyatt took an extended break from the BBC One soap back in early 2021 and, as well as his turn on I'm a Celeb, the actor has appeared on stage in Looking Good Dead.

Joel Anderson//ITV

Despite his 'Enders hiatus, Adam acknowledged that Ian Beale will always be the role he's best known for.

"I think as long as I live, I'm still going to be seen as Ian Beale," he said. "It doesn't matter what I do, what else I do, where I go, Ian Beale is always going to be a part of my life."

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.