Adam Woodyatt has reportedly extended his sabbatical from EastEnders by a few months.
The actor, who has played Ian Beale since the soap's first episode in February 1985, took a leave of absence from the show at the end of last year in order to take part in a UK tour of the play Looking Good Dead.
Initially Woodyatt's break was expected to last for six to nine months, but delays to the tour caused by coronavirus pushed his return into 2022.
According to The Sun, additional dates have now been added to the tour for next March and April - effectively meaning that the earliest Woodyatt could be back on screens in EastEnders is summer 2022.
During his EE break Woodyatt is also expected to be part of the lineup for ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, which returns for a new series next month.
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