There’s just one important thing missing from EastEnders’ 40th anniversary

With a unrecorded episode, an interactive spectator vote and the return of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) connected the way, EastEnders is pulling retired each the stops for its 40^th day celebrations. 

But, for a amusement that loves to thin gloriously into its history, there’s conscionable 1 happening missing. We request to speech astir Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). 

Let’s enactment a pin successful the BBC soap’s different pressing substance – whether fishy Ian is liable for the attempted execution of cheating ex-wife Cindy (Michelle Collins) – and delve into his mislaid transportation with champion mate  Sharon. 

For anyone needing a refresher people connected wherefore this brace nary longer speak, it each started erstwhile Ian recovered retired astir Sharon’s teenage son, Denny’s (Bleu Landau), hateful behaviour towards Ian’s lad Bobby (Clay Milner Russell). Ian locked Denny successful a compartment connected committee The Queen Vic’s enactment boat, and Denny drowned, with Ian failing to travel cleanable implicit his relation successful the tragedy.  

In revenge, Sharon ordered Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to onslaught him. She past joined Ian successful hospital, and began poisoning him, spiking an infamous spaghetti carbonara successful bid to termination him. He cottoned onto Sharon’s plan, but aft a showdown, blameworthy Ian tried to devour the toxic repast anyway.  

Having 2nd thoughts implicit watching him die, Sharon stopped him, and Ian fled Albert Square. 

In 2023, Ian returned for good. He and Sharon cleared the air, and she helped Ian physique bridges with his mum Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth). Yet, strangely, Sharon and Ian haven’t been successful interaction since.  

This is simply a crying shame for these beloved archetypal characters, who erstwhile shared a beardown bond. With specified a immense EastEnders milestone imminent, it conscionable feels incorrect for Ian and Sharon to stay estranged. 

They grew up together, and determination was a clip we could spot that they would ever enactment each other. So, tin they ever get backmost to normality? 

Well, plentifulness of soap characters person forgiven each different for worse. After all, we’ve yet to recognize however Ian comfortably reunited with Cindy, overlooking the information that she erstwhile had him changeable via a hitman!  

Maybe Sharon could broach that taxable again, and successful a classic, acheronian nighttime of the psyche two-hander, Ian could delve into however connected world helium managed to get implicit Cindy’s misdeeds – frankincense yet salvaging things with Sharon, too. 

It could beryllium cathartic to spot Ian bring up ‘that clip you tried to bump maine off’ successful casual conversation. Imagine Sharon’s wide-eyed reaction, and Ian smiling teasingly. 

This would besides beryllium a amusive mode for EastEnders to humbly poke amusive astatine its much bonkers storylines, alternatively of reflecting lone connected its extended catalogue of top hits. 

Sharon is simply a lifelong household person of the Beale dynasty, and has maintained a adjacent narration with Kathy; each the portion having nothing to bash with Ian.  

Although we could property Sharon and Kathy’s enslaved to The Six’s ongoing pact, Kathy often references her aged pal, Sharon’s adoptive mum Angie (Anita Dobson), arsenic the crushed she volition ever look retired for her. 

The ties that hindrance them person allowed these women to upwind galore storms, from Sharon’s matter with Phil portion helium was engaged to Kathy, and yes, adjacent Sharon’s attempts connected Ian’s life!  

Surely, then, Ian and Sharon tin flooded the acheronian play that broke their friendship. This is, aft all, the cleanable clip to repair and revive it.  

If we’ve missed the infinitesimal to look the elephant successful the country head-on, EastEnders is acquainted with simply glossing implicit eventful arcs. Remember erstwhile Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) visited Ireland successful hunt of her long-lost son, lone for him to beryllium revealed arsenic a killer?  

Although precise successful keeping with the genre, this spin-off crippled twist has ne'er been discussed connected the main amusement – and, frankly, we got implicit this continuity mistake a agelong clip ago.  

By the laws of soap land, capable clip has present passed for Ian and Sharon to brushwood her vendetta conveniently nether the carpet. 

When Sharon and Ian chatted during his showstopping comeback, determination was inactive plentifulness of warmth to gully from. 

This is simply a cardinal constituent for immoderate longstanding soap alliance. Amid the play Sharon has been surrounded by lately, and the betrayal Ian has endured, wherever amended to find immoderate bosom than betwixt these platonic soulmates? 

Across 4 decades, deaths person been faked, marriages divided up and villains thwarted; but immoderate fixtures and fittings of Walford are arsenic unchangeable arsenic ever. Just arsenic Tracey (played by chap amusement seasoned Jane Slaughter) belongs successful The Vic, Sharon and Ian beryllium successful each other’s orbits.  

In a beingness wherever thing is possible, I cognize EastEnders tin close this incorrect and reconstruct bid erstwhile and for all.