EastEnders’ Adam Woodyatt’s divorce ‘turns toxic’ as he and ex wife Bev ‘struggle to agree fair deal’

Adam Woodyatt’s divorce has reportedly “turned toxic” amid claims he is not offering his ex wife Bev a “fair deal”.

EastEnders star Adam, who has played Ian Beale on Albert Square for 35 years, announced his split from his wife Beverley Sharp after 20 years of marriage last year.

But, as he prepares to take an extended break from the BBC soap, insiders are said to have suggested the time away could be an attempt to drive down his income ahead of his divorce settlement.

A source told The Sun on Sunday: “No one could understand why he wanted to take some time out suddenly and do the stage production.

“People have been speculating that it could be so he can get away with paying less in the divorce.

“It would be a tactic straight out of Ian Beale’s playbook.”

EastEnders viewers have seen drama Ian Beale’s past catch up with him as a number of people who’s feathers he has ruffled have been suspects in his attempted murder recently.

But, dramatic Christmas Day scenes saw the identity of his attempted killers revealed as his new wife Sharon and Phil Mitchell.

Ian’s storyline will soon see actor Adam, who shares two adult children with his ex-wife, take a ten month break from the soap as Ian recovers from being poisoned.

Adam, who recently showcased his weight loss in a backstage snap, was due to star in theatre show Looking Good Dead in venues across the country but Covid-19 restrictions risk the number of shows being cut from 23 to six.

Another insider said: “Despite what he’s saying publicly, she’s had to get lawyers involved to fight her corner.

“The feeling is he’s not offering Bev a fair deal.

“If it is the case that he was trying to reduce his income, it looks like it might have backfired because Covid is likely to have cut his income a lot more than he anticipated with so many shows having to be cancelled.”

Adam and Bev split in 2019, but the soap star but the news wasn’t unveiled until a year later.

A friend of the Ian Beale actor said in August: “Beverley was naturally very upset, as anybody would be in the circumstances, but these things happen and it’s a straightforward separation.

“Nobody plans for these things and divorce is a difficult thing to get your head around but they have dealt with it quietly for several months and are now telling friends so it’s less of a secret.”