Is it the Ender the road for Ian?

EastEnders veteran Ian Beale is reportedly going to be killed off in May in a sensational showdown with arch-enemy Phil Mitchell.

It will mean the end of 22 years in Walford for actor Adam Woodyatt – the last remaining member of the cast to have featured in the soap’s first episode back in 1985.

Ian's exit, which has already been filmed, sees his long-running feud with Phil end in tragedy, according to the Sunday Express.

BBC bosses have gone to great lengths to keep the spectatular plot, which is estimated to have cost £1 million, under wraps, and have continued to remain tight-lipped despite this latest revelation.

Adam himself has also been keeping quiet about his exit - but a show insider has confirmed that it comes when an argument over a saveloy sausage gets out of hand.

The insider said: “Ian and Phil’s latest feud all started over a saveloy. It all comes to a head in one of the biggest stunts the soap world has ever seen.”

Chip-shop owner Ian and hard-man Phil, played by Steve McFadden, have been at loggerheads ever since Phil married Ian’s mum Kathy, played by Gillian Taylforth. After calling a truce for Phil's son - and Ian's half-brother Ben - the feud is once again hotting up.

The insider added: “The final showdown has cost a lot of money. It’s the most expensive stunt the soap has ever done and it’s going to produce a huge fightback in the bitter ratings war."

The BBC has been doing everything to keep the storyline hush-hush - even printing scripts on special red paper to prevent them being photocopied or faxed to anyone.

And scriptwriters have apparently written two alternate endings - one where Ian lives, and one where he dies.

EastEnders bosses have refused to deny that Adam, 38, is being axed.

A spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on future storylines. Viewers will just have to wait and see what happens.”