Could Ian Beale and Sharon Mitchell become the latest paring in EastEnders?
EastEnders fans are worried that soap bosses are going to try and pair Sharon Mitchell and Ian Beale together after tonight’s trip to Walford.
After being thrown out of The Vic by drunk Linda Carter in the early hours of New Year’s Day, Sharon found herself with nowhere else to go and ended up riding the night Tube until eventually knocking on Ian’s door asking for his help.

Sharon didn’t have the best start to 2020 (Picture: BBC)
Seven months pregnant and homeless, Sharon was a sight for sore eyes as she shivered her way into the Beale house, desperately in need of a cuppa and a good night’s sleep.
But while Ian was more than happy to welcome his oldest friend into his home, fans are worried that he might have romantic feelings for pregnant Sharon, and that EastEnders bosses are going to get the pair together, ruining their iconic friendship…
If they pair up Ian and Sharon, I will never watch this show again. Ian is just a less violent version of Phil. Sharon's been through enough. #EastEnders
— Not Seth (@guestofseth) January 2, 2020
Whatever happens
please please dont let
Sharon and Ian
'get together'#EastEnders— Henry Hobson (@justopinion1972) January 2, 2020
Please don’t ruin Ian and Sharon’s friendship by making them get together at some point in the year. It’s such a typical soapy thing to do #EastEnders
— Blank Space (@AllAboutMystery) January 2, 2020
Please don't let Sharon and Ian be together. #EastEnders
— Michelle💕 (@mishybabez_) January 2, 2020
Dear @bbceastenders, please don't put Sharon and Ian together. It would be sacrilegious, I tell you.
— Dj Feminem UK (@FeminemDj) January 1, 2020
Please don't pair up Ian and Sharon. #Eastenders
— P (@prezpat) January 2, 2020
EastEnders fans will know that Ian and Sharon go way back, having been friends since the soap first aired back in the 80s, and now that Sharon has been thrown out of the Mitchell fold, could she be looking for someone to replace Phil?
With a baby on the way, Sharon is definitely in need of a good friend to put a roof over her head and help her back on her feet. But Ian’s decision to help her isn’t sitting well with his family.

Ian offered his friend a roof over her head, but is he hoping for romance? (Picture: BBC)
Not only is Kathy fuming that Sharon has got under Ian’s skin, but Lola and Jay were also not happy to see Sharon, who cheated on Mitchell patriarch Phil with Keanu Taylor last year.
But all hell broke loose when Ben found out that Ian had asked Sharon to stay, telling his brother it is time for him to choose between family and friends… and sadly for Ben, Ian chose friends.

Ben wasn’t happy about Ian and Sharon cosying up, and neither are EastEnders fans! (Picture: BBC)
So with Ben packing his bags, along with Lola’s and Lexi’s, it seems the Mitchell house is about to become very crowded once again. But will Ian regret putting Sharon before his own flesh and blood?
And are fans right and there is a romance on the horizon for Walford’s longest-serving characters?
EastEnders airs Monday and Friday at 8pm and Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.