Storylines

Ian's parental proposition

In June 2006 Ian and Adam had their first house guest. Madeleine was Ian's oldest friend. They had known each other back in Ireland and when they moved to London they shared not only a flat but each other's lives.

Madds had married Dermot, a very possessive chap who didn't understand her having a gay friend. So she had drifted out of Ian's life, but now she was divorced she wanted to re-establish her old friendship.

At first Adam was cautious, but he was willing to make an effort for Ian's sake. But when Madds voiced her reason for reappearing, Adam became concerned for his partner's well being. Madds wanted a baby and she wanted it by a man whom she could trust - who better than her old mate Ian?

Ian was over the moon. He wanted to be a father, but Adam worried that Ian would give his heart to the child and then Madds would move on again, leaving Ian heartbroken. Having planted the idea, Madds returned to London and her job in television, but she left with the promise that she would be back soon and then they could get on with their plans.

But while she was away, Madds found a new man and without thinking twice about Ian she started planning her life with Oz. When she was next in Ambridge in September she told Ian all about her new love.

Madds soon departed and left a shattered Ian with the promise that he would become the favourite uncle of her and Oz's - yet to be conceived - child. It would appear that she had never considered that Ian could have fallen so much in love with the prospect of fatherhood.