It’s about time Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) had a good romance in EastEnders. Let’s face it. He’s had a lifetime of bad ones.

First of all, there was his loving wife Cindy (Michelle Collins). The same Cindy who faked her death after trying to have him killed by a hitman… only to come back again! That’s not going well, obvs.

Wife number two didn’t go much better – Ian cheated on Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman) with Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), then lied about having a vasectomy and threw out Laura when she became pregnant.

Mel Owen (Tamzin Outhwaite) just about made it down the aisle with Ian, but she left him at the reception after she discovered how her new hubby had been manipulating her into thinking their daughter Lucy Beale was dying of cancer.

Then there was Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) – so good he married her twice. She helped cover up his daughter Lucy’s murder at the hands of his disturbed son Bobby, which arguably makes her a keeper. However, Ian torpedoed that marriage by having an affair with Glenda Mitchell (Glynis Barber). And they say romance is dead…

So it is with relief and a sense of trepidation that EastEnders fans have noticed the beginnings of a romance between the Weasel of Walford and business rival Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe).

Like Ian, Elaine’s facing the aftermath of a breakup after her marriage to George Knight (Colin Salmon) ended due to his feelings for Cindy. But it’s not just ex drama they have in common. It’s business too.

Viewers have enjoyed the spiky rivalry between these two entrepreneurs which has led to a number of flirty exchanges, including during quiz night at the Vic, when Ian demanded the champion should get a reduction on haddock and chips from his fish shop. This delighted Elaine. ’Nothing says festive generosity like discounted haddock’ she quipped. Indeed.

But their blossoming romance could be stamped out before its even started, as Ian and Elaine’s business rivalry turns sour.

Over the past few weeks, the glamourous businesswoman has been throwing everything she has into the launch of her swanky boutique hotel Peacock Palace – and Ian has been doing everything he can to throw a spanner in the works.

Under the pretence of raising concerns about government permissions for guest houses, crafty Ian’s been scheming to put the kybosh on council approval and putting the kybosh on Elaine’s hotelier dreams before her big opening!

Now Elaine’s set to fight back in upcoming episodes, where she takes their rivalry too far and commits an unspeakable betrayal by hitting Ian where it hurts – his café.

When Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Ian discover that Elaine is launching a breakfast offer at Peacock Palace, they’re horrified to discover that she’s badmouthed the café on her leaflets. All’s fair in love and war but please, leave the café out of this!