Eastenders star Adam Woodyatt has hinted he may be leaving the BBC soap for good.

Adam is the soaps longest-serving actor having played Ian Beale for a staggering 36 years.

Ian Beale joined Albert Square in 1985 have and has been a near permanent fixture on the square ever since.

He has been involved in huge story lines through the years including the death of on-screen daughter Lucy Beale and more recently, his role in the death of young Dennis Rickman/Mitchell.

The 53-year old actor is currently enjoying an extended break to focus on acting on stage but admitted his return to the BBC soap is not set in stone.

Mr Woodyatt told The Metro: "I won’t be going back until this time next year at the absolute earliest.

"I’m committed to touring with Looking Good Dead until the end of October. I’m then going to America because my daughter is getting married.

"Then hopefully we’re going to pick the tour up and do some of the venues that were originally planned but that we hadn’t managed to get to. That’s likely to be January to April."

He then teased: "And EastEnders might not want me back!

"We could get a new boss in who goes, ‘Beale’s gone, we don’t need him any more'.

"I think even if I actually left, I’d still be part of the fabric. Ian will always be associated with the Square.

"People still talk about Den and Angie, and they haven’t been on the programme in 32 years, so I think I will always be there in people’s minds."