Adam Woodyatt

**Adam Brinley Woodyatt** (born 28th June 1968 in Walthamstow, London) is a British actor who has appeared on *EastEnders* as the long-suffering Ian Beale from the shows inception in February 1985 to the present day, with a temporary break from January 2021 to May 2023. He is the second longest running actor in the show's history behind Jean Slaughter, and the longest running male actor.

Adam trained for drama in his spare time at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, and made his first professional appearance in 1980, as one of the Fagin's gang in the revival of the musical *Oliver!* in the West End. He then played the ragamuffin in the National Theatre production of *On The Razzle*, which starred Felicity Kendal. On television he has been seen as Shiner in the BBC TV drama series *The Baker Street Boys* and as David Firkettle in *The Witches and The Grinnygog* for TVS.

If the role of Ian had not come up, Adam might have been tempted to opt for a safe career with his local butcher, with whom he had a Saturday job. In 1985 he was cast as Ian Beale in the BBC's new soap opera *EastEnders*. Not expecting to stay much beyond the first year, Woodyatt has become the longest-serving male cast member in *EastEnders*. His longevity was honoured at the 2013 British Soap Awards when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his role of Ian. Woodyatt has also played Ian in various *EastEnders* spin-offs, including *EastEnders: E20*. On 26th November 2018, Adam reprised his role as Ian in "The Best of EastEnders", a two hour compilation of iconic moments from the show. With the exception of a temporary departure from January 2021 to May 2023, Adam has portrayed Ian since the show's inception.

Adam confirmed his desire to remain with the show in 2010, during the show's 25th anniversary: "Why would I want to leave when I'm not going to get the chance to portray even half the range of emotions I get to here in a one-off drama or a six-part series? And you're not going to get the same viewing figures either. You have your moments when things go wrong and you perhaps don't want to work with a certain person. In any office there are going to be people who don't get along but you get on with it and on the whole I enjoy it. Over the last couple of years we've had a really tight crew and it's the best atmosphere I can remember. There have been peaks and troughs, like with any show, but right now things are good."

In 2015, Woodyatt played the henchman of the Wicked Queen in pantomime in *Snow White* at Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre. Woodyatt is an accomplished photographer, a hobby he took up while performing *On The Razzle* at the National Theatre when he was 13 years old. In 2008 he won the Architectural Photographer of the Year Award of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers with a picture he took at St Pancras, where he was filming *EastEnders*.

Inspired by his father's death from cancer aged 58, Woodyatt has helped raise money for various cancer research initiatives. Woodyatt was also instrumental in launching an Aid for Haiti event at Coventry's Ricoh Arena in February 2010, with many of his actor colleagues posing for photographs, signing autographs, and providing items for an auction, which raised £30,000. Woodyatt is also a supporter of Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and an Ambassador for the Children's Air Ambulance.

On 8th April 1998, Woodyatt married dancer Beverley Sharp in a private ceremony at Disney World, Florida. The couple has two children, and for many years lived in Southam, Warwickshire.