EastEnders viewers 'thrilled' as 'biggest fan theory of the year' finally comes true in early iPlayer release
Fans were right about Ian and Elaine...
WARNING: This article is full of spoilers for today’s EastEnders episode, which is streaming on BBC iPlayer now but has not yet aired on BBC One, and sees Ian and Elaine kiss just as a fan theory predicted.
EastEnders fans have been talking about Ian Beale and Elaine Peacock’s feud turning into passion for months. And, today’s episode finally proves their theory right when the pair share a kiss.
The election results are revealed
The battle is on as election day arrives, and Ian is still grovelling to Elaine after Bea’s smear campaign went viral.
He makes an apology video in an attempt to win her over, but she admits he really hurt her feelings and she won’t be forgiving him anytime soon.
As the election gets underway, Linda lashes out at Ian for the video. Meanwhile, Elaine is more interested in finding out who her daughter spent the night with the previous evening.
Later, the results are in, and Ian is announced as the winner. Elaine is gracious in her defeat, but it is clear that she is hurt, convinced that Bea’s video caused irreparable damage to her campaign.
Ian and Elaine share a kiss
Once home, Elaine is wallowing when Ian arrives. She questions why he isn’t out celebrating his victory, but he admits that he wants to check if she is okay.
The pair start fighting again, Ian calling Elaine out for not accepting his apology, and Elaine lashing out, explaining that not everything is about him. But as they fight, their anger turns to passion, and Ian plants a kiss on Elaine’s lips.
While Elaine is shocked, she doesn’t complain. Then it is her turn to take Ian’s face in her hands and kiss him back.
EastEnders fan theory turns out to be correct
EastEnders fans were thrilled they’d guessed that Ian and Elaine’s ongoing feud would develop into something else.
They took to social media to share their happiness at being right. They also explained that they don’t hate the idea of the pair becoming a couple at some point…
“The way I cheered when Ian and Elaine kissed. We were right!” celebrated one fan on X. “At last! It looks like Ian and Elaine are finally official,” replied another viewer.
Over on Reddit, the sentiment was the same. However, one fan pointed out that Bea won’t be happy when she finds out. “I can see Elaine and Ian getting together. Probably after some inevitable to-and-fro and drama. Then Bea will plot against them.”
While someone else thought the pair had great on-screen chemistry. “Ian and Elaine have way more chemistry than the likes of Zack and Vicki and Max and Cindy!”
