EastEnders - 27/02/2009

It’s Ian’s 40th birthday and his eyes light up on finding Jane’s pole dancing kit. Still disturbed at having walked in on Christian and Ian in a compromising position, Billy suspects Ian may be gay. Jane finds out about Ian’s tattoo and tells Tanya. With Billy having spread the gossip about Ian, Tanya overhears, and in an effort to allay the gay rumours, she reveals the truth, much to everyone’s amusement. Fed up with the incessant jibes about his tattoo, Ian is forced to pull down his trousers and reveal his tattoo. Later, Ian’s mortified when Dot walks in on Jane pole dancing for him. On hearing that council dignitaries will be in attendance at Ian’s birthday party in the Vic, Peggy sees it as an excellent campaign opportunity. She asks Billy to let his children stay and invites local press. Peggy is incensed to see Janine cosying up to the local dignitaries and a slanging match ensues, with Janine accusing Peggy of exploiting Billy’s kids to bolster her campaign and Peggy revealing that Janine was once a prostitute. Later, when Peggy goes upstairs, she finds Janine, who reminds her that the Vic was her home before it was Peggy’s, and she plans to claw it all back, piece by piece. Following Pat’s decision to give up on Pat’s Cars, Ricky is unemployed. He snubs Janine when she offers him a job, but later accepts. Lucas is concerned to see Chelsea going out with Theo. Theo persuades Chelsea to talk to Patrick for him. Patrick grudgingly agrees to talk. Afraid of the implications of this for him, Lucas says he’ll take care of Theo. Zainab panics when a furious Tamwar discovers that she’s made contact with Syed. He phones Syed and tells him to stay out of their lives.