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What happened to Ian Beale's dad Pete in EastEnders after sad admission?

EastEnders legend Peter Dean played beloved Pete Beale from 1985 until his sudden exit

[EastEnders stars Peter Dean as Pete Beale, Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale, Anna Wing as Lou Beale and Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale pose on the set of Walford market]

The Beale family have been a staple on the show since 1993 (Image: Getty Images)

BBC EastEnders icon Ian Beale has shared a sad admission about his father, Pete, as he remains locked up in prison.

Legendary businessman Ian, played by Adam Woodyatt, was recently thrown into prison for eight months after he accidentally knocked over Jordan Fox (Jahsaiah Williams) with his car following Vicki Fowler's (Alice Haig) wedding reception.

Since being locked up, Ian had reunited with former Albert Square neighbour, Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith), who is serving life for three murders.

The serial killer has now got his claws into Ian and has offered to give him protection inside, asking him to arrange a visit with his ex-wife, Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), in return.

[Ian Beale in EastEnders ]

Ian Beale has already been caught up in Gray's schemes (Image: BBC)

During Monday's episode of the BBC soap (August 10), a violent altercation broke out between two inmates as timid Ian made a connection to fellow inmate Lloyd (Enzo Squillino JR).

While the two chatted, Ian shared a heartbreaking confession about his father, Pete Beale (Peter Dean).

He said: "I remember doing a puzzle like this with my dad years ago. I'm just glad he's not around to see me in this place."

"I always thought I'd do better than mine, but life had other plans," Lloyd replied as the two men looked deflated.

What happened to Pete Beale on EastEnders?

[EastEnders' Pete Beale ]

EastEnders' Pete Beale was killed off-screen in 1993 (Image: BBC Archive)

The Beale family was introduced on the BBC soap when the soap launched in February 1985, and consisted of a fresh-faced Ian, his mum Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), his dad Pete (Peter Dean), and his non-nonsense nan Lou (Anna Wing).

Pete was also the twin brother of Pauline (Wendy Richards), establishing a historical bond between the Beale and Fowler families that is still visible on-screen today.

The greengrocer is famed for his market stall on George Street and remembered for a scandalous paternity row over Simon Wicks (Nick Berry) with his first wife, Pat Butcher (Pam St. Clement).

Despite appearing to have a solid marriage, Kathy and Peter split in 1991 after he failed to support her with her rape ordeal by James Willmott-Brown (William Boyde).

He later found love with a former flame, Rose Chapman (Petra Markham), and left for a new life away from Walford in 1993 to get away from her husband's violent family.

However, their new life lasted only six months as both Pete and Rose died suddenly in a car crash orchestrated by the Chapman family. The news reached Walford via a telephone call to Ian on the same day he welcomed his twins, Peter and Lucy, with his then-wife, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins).

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer

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