Adam is enjoying life away from the Square (Picture: BBC)
EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt has admitted that he ‘doesn’t miss’ the show’s intense filming schedule, as he enjoys life outside of Albert Square.
The actor, who rose to fame as Ian Beale, left the BBC One soap two years ago after nearly four decades, going on to star in several successful theatre productions, which he has thoroughly enjoyed.
Discussing his time on EastEnders, Adam, 54, revealed that working on a continuing drama doesn’t allow you much opportunity to do other things, due to the ‘intense’ filming schedule coupled with the amount of episodes a week.
‘It is very intense, it’s hard work, it’s long hours,’ he told the Daily Star. ‘It doesn’t give you a lot of time to do anything else. You can’t plan doing anything else.
‘Whereas now I’ve suddenly got a life outside and I’m loving it.’
Adam went on to stay that he ‘doesn’t know’ where life will take him next, admitting that he could even end up doing ‘load of stage work’, or even films.
‘I’ll see what happens’, he said. ‘At the moment I’m quite happy’.
The soap star, however, recognised that one doesn’t ‘ever fully leave EastEnders’, admitting that he will always be thought of as Ian Beale, even if he never returns to the show.
Ian, despite leaving almost two years ago, made a surprise appearance in December last year, with Adam reprising his role for Dot Cotton’s funeral, in scenes which viewers had no clue about until they aired.
The character, who was coincidentally mentioned on-screen earlier this week, received a secret phone call from someone close to him, leaving viewers convinced that her’s reunited with Jane since his on-screen departure.
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Though producer Chris Clenshaw refused to reveal the identity of the caller, he insisted that they knew who it was, suggesting that there may be the potential for further stories for Ian.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
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