
With the ongoing conflict between Elaine and Ian on EastEnders, Harriet Thorpe, who plays Elaine, has hinted at more dramatic developments to come in the storyline, describing it as ‘fantastic’.
The conflict started when Elaine opened Peacock Palace and began trying to attract customers away from Kathy’s cafe. Things escalated when Elaine unintentionally hurt Kathy, and now, to make matters worse, both Elaine and Ian are running for the same open spot on the town council, putting them in direct competition.
Actor Adam Thorpe shared with Inside Soap (as reported by Digital Spy) that he enjoys the ongoing rivalry between his characters, Ian and Elaine. He explained that while other storylines on the show deal with very serious, life-or-death situations, the conflict between Ian and Elaine is amusingly small-scale – like a funny argument you’d see in a neighborhood group chat – and it’s a pleasure to perform.
Fans of the show have speculated that the ongoing conflict between the characters might blossom into a love story. When asked about this possibility, Harriet playfully avoided answering directly, simply saying she wouldn’t rule it out.

You know, Ian’s a bit of a player around Albert Square, just like Max Branning was. I honestly don’t see Elaine getting involved with that kind of drama, but then again, you never know with her, do you?
Want to see this content?
As a big movie fan, I sometimes encounter a security check on websites, powered by something called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, the site asks for my permission – it just wants to be upfront about the fact that reCAPTCHA might use cookies and similar tech. If I want to see the content – like showtimes or trailers – I simply click ‘Accept and continue’ to let it work its magic.
Next week, Ian will ask Oscar for help with his campaign, but he doesn’t know that Elaine has already secretly asked Oscar to damage Ian’s reputation.
When Ian discovers their scheme, he and Elaine realize they’ve been tricked, leaving them to wonder how they’ll respond.
Don’t miss out on EastEnders! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations, features, and more.
Authors

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, an international TV production company. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
- Visit us on Twitter
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Looks Like SEGA Is Reheating PS5, PS4 Fan Favourite Sonic Frontiers in Definitive Edition
- Pluribus Star Rhea Seehorn Weighs In On That First Kiss
- Dune 3 Gets the Huge Update Fans Have Been Waiting For
- Arknights: Endfield – Everything You Need to Know Before You Jump In
- 22 actors who were almost James Bond – and why they missed out on playing 007
- Kelly Osbourne Slams “Disgusting” Comments on Her Appearance
- Antiferromagnetic Oscillators: Unlocking Stable Spin Dynamics
- 5 Weakest Akatsuki Members in Naruto, Ranked
- 10 Steamiest Erotic Thriller Movies of the 21st Century
2026-03-07 15:04