Adam Woodyatt not quitting EastEnders

EastEnders fans can rest easy after rumours surrounding longest-serving cast member Adam Woodyatt following in the footsteps of Wendy Richard, who plays miserable matriarch Pauline Fowler, have been quashed.

The actor was said to be fed up with his role as scheming businessman Ian Beale, and was allegedly set to leave the show at the same time as Richard.

But a spokesperson for the BBC said: "There is absolutely no truth in this story whatsoever."

Woodyatt has been in EastEnders since the show began in 1985, and during his time in Walford has endured many ups and downs - especially when it comes to romance.

He wed first wife Cindy (Michelle Collins), believing she was carrying his child - but the father turned out to be hunky Simon Wicks (Nick Berry).

Their relationship gradually deteriorated and, in 1996, she tried to have her husband killed by hiring a gunman. Luckily, Ian survived - but his marriage didn't.

He then fell for stunning blonde Melanie Healy (Tamzin Outhwaite), but learned a trick or two from Cindy when he conned her into thinking daughter Lucy had a terminal illness.

She walked out on him during their wedding reception in 1999.

Wife number three came in the form of downtrodden former nanny Laura (Hannah Waterman). She brightened up Ian's life for a while - until he learned she had been unfaithful with Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves).

Since then, he seems to have found happiness with Jane Collins (Laurie Brett) - but Ian's wheeling and dealing could put paid to yet another romance.