EastEnders fans were left in stitches as Phil Mitchell's face said it all when he laid eyes on Ian Beale for the first time in over two years.
Awkward Reunions All Around
While Cindy Beale's reunion with her ex George Knight and their daughters Gina and Anna Knight took center stage, it wasn't the only uncomfortable meeting of the night.
Cindy revealed to George the truth behind her sudden departure from his life and their family. She explained that she had been placed in a witness protection program to keep her loved ones safe following the murder of her eldest daughter, Lucy Beale.
Upon discovering that her daughters were at the Queen Vic, Cindy rushed past George to see them.
Phil Mitchell's Priceless Expression
As Anna celebrated her 21st birthday, tensions rose when Peter Beale stormed into the pub with his father, Ian Beale, in tow.
When Ian entered, he was met with a mix of confusion and disapproval from Kat Slater, Sharon Watts, and Sonia Fowler. However, it was Phil Mitchell's unimpressed facial expressions that stole the show and left viewers in stitches.
Fans Take to Social Media
Viewers took to Twitter to share their amusement at the dramatic cliffhanger. One user wrote, "Omg tonight's cliffhanger! Sharon and Phil are in utter bewilderment, Ian there and nobody noticed, where's tomorrow's episode??"
Another fan exclaimed, "I love how they showed Sharon, Phil, and Sonia's reactions to seeing Ian."
A third viewer penned, "Sharon, Phil, and Kat's reactions to Ian being back, they were like 'am I hallucinating?'
Should Ian Be Concerned?
Since Ian's departure from Walford in January 2021, where Sharon tried to poison him to death, he believes that he and Cindy have put their troubled past behind them and now support one another.
However, with the reconnection between George Knight and his former flame Cindy, some wonder if Ian should be worried about their future.
Tune in to EastEnders on Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer to find out the latest.
