Fans of EastEnders are already over Ian Beale after just one week.

We don’t know how mom Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) has put up with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) for so long. After less than a week back in EastEnders, we now understand why not one but two of his ex-wives have attempted to get rid of him.

In the course of one night, he had already alienated his mother from her home, insulted Cindy Beale’s daughters when one of them was in the hospital, and angered his son Bobby (Clay Milner Russell).

What a cheek it is!

Fans have responded so strongly to Ian’s comeback, with many urging Cindy to get in touch with that hitman, which is a credit to the lovely Adam Woodyatt’s portrayal.

Fans voiced their opinions about Ian’s behavior on X, formerly known as Twitter, and not many of them were positive.

Na right Ian say one more word about her girl's and I'll let her call the hit man again #EastEnders
— Em ❤️ (@lindseyseva) September 1, 2023

Ian really is a nasty piece of work to Kathy and Rocky in this scene. He really is so selfish and Honestly never changes. All Ian cares about is himself inside and outside of business. The fact he can turf out his own flesh and blood over Cindy is disgusting 😡😡 #EastEnders pic.twitter.com/Q0eDWRIWNU
— Ryan Glendenning (@RyanTheSoapking) August 31, 2023

right so officially back in my anti ian beale era #EastEnders
— ash (gareth southgate hater) (@grxyatkins) August 31, 2023

Some fans have already suggested that Ian should be the victim of the murder that will occur on Christmas day. Given the strained relationship between Ian and Kathy and Sharon’s past (cough, carbonara gate cough), we can’t completely rule this possibility out.

There is still plenty of time for Ian to alienate the other four members of The Six, and at the pace he’s going, by October he’ll probably have turned the entire Square against him.

I want Ian Beale to be the body on the floor at Christmas x#Eastenders pic.twitter.com/AH7Cx32mcF
— cam 🍻 (@soaps_extra) August 31, 2023

Ian going full scorched earth on Kathy, Rocky & that bloody parrot 🦜….
Another candidate for the Christmas dead body ?!!! #EastEnders
— ⭐️🌟Fluffadelic⭐️🌟🍍 (@Fluffadelic) August 31, 2023

Fans are upset by Ian’s behavior, but despite this, they are happy to see actor Adam back on the Square since they say his portrayal of Ian makes them love to despise him.

And my god isn’t @AdamWoodyatt so wonderful, so glad to have him back as our loveable muppet Ian Beale. I love to hate him and hate to love him but it’s not #EastEnders without him!
— Louisa ✨ (@benandcallum) August 31, 2023

People who have watched EastEnders for a long time will recall what a wonderful young man Ian was in 1985. Is there any chance that he will start to show that side of himself once more, or are we stuck with the “nasty piece of work” that he has evolved into?

It certainly seems as though the world is a better place now that Ian Beale has returned home, whether you like him or not.