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Man Gets Ian Beale's 'Ugly Crying Face' Tattooed On His Leg

Man Gets Ian Beale's 'Ugly Crying Face' Tattooed On His Leg

One of Eastenders most memorable scenes.

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

It was the scene that became the stuff of memes. Ian Beale crying his eyes out in the arms of Phil Mitchell after the death of his wife, Lucy.

Credit: BBC/ Eastenders

The emotional moment from Eastenders rapidly became the weapon of banter across social media.

It's pretty timeless enough, but now a carer for the elderly has got Ian Beale's face from the scene tattooed on his leg.

Luke Evangelou, 24, isn't even a fan of the BBC One soap but continues to 'bully' Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt, online in an effort to get him to sign it.

After 'accidentally' seeing the scene back in 2014, Luke has wanted the tattoo for years and finally got the courage to get it done - even if his girlfriend, and those he cares for, think it's stupid.

Luke, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, said: "I thought it would be funny. It doesn't bother me that it's on me for life. I remember watching that episode and I thought he looked funny.

"I don't really watch Eastenders but I know that episode. I wonder how many takes it took. It is such an ugly crying face. The other actor must have been pissing himself."

Credit: Caters

Luke has sent the image of his ink work to Adam Woodyatt every day since getting it done, in an effort to get him to sign it, but, so far, the actor has ignored him.

"I want him to see it and then sign the tattoo and then I will get that tattooed as well," Luke added. "If he sees it and hates it then at least he would have seen it. It's just a bit of a joke that got out of hand."

Luke already has around 20 tattoos, including a Back to the Future one, but says he doesn't enjoy getting them done.

His missus, Lucy, 25, thinks it's ridiculous but at the same time remains impressed at the detail.

Luke said: "The tattooist is quite a serious artist so I didn't think he would do it but he was up for it.

"I've put a lot of thought into this. It's such a stupid tattoo but it's been done good. It isn't just a shit tattoo. He made it really highly detailed. It was so much effort."

Credit: Caters

As for everybody else? Well, let's just say they aren't loving it as much as Luke.

He explained: "A lot of people hate it, but Facebook isn't real so if people I don't know comment on it, and hate it, I don't know them so it's just funny.

"It's got more attention than I deserve the artist deserves the recognition.

"My nan finds it hilarious but her husband thinks it's disgusting. I care for the elderly and a lot of them don't like it."

Luke will have to compete with Amber-May Ellis for the 'best Ian Beale tattoo' award.

She got in touch with E4's Tattoo Fixers to amend her 'homeless Ian Beale' tattoo who, instead of covering it up, decided to jazz it up, adding 'keep it real, like Ian Beale'.

Credit: E4

On the finished result, Amber told the show's artists: "Oh my God, I love it, you can actually tell it's him now!

"I don't even know what to say as I didn't think it would be good."

I'm just waiting for the day someone unveils a tattoo of Steve McDonald pulling a pint at the Rovers Return.

Featured Image Credit: Caters

Topics: Eastenders, Tattoo