Phil to bash Ian again

As part of his vengeful return to Albert Square, Phil Mitchell is set to give Ian Beale a bashing - again.

15:14 11 October 2005

As part of his vengeful return to Albert Square, Phil Mitchell is set to give Ian Beale a bashing - again.

We've lost count of the amount of times the luckless cafe owner, played by Adam Woodyatt, has eaten a knuckle sandwich served by the Walford hard-man.

Phil, played by Steve McFadden, last got stuck into Ian back in April this year when he was on the run from police and ended up shoving Beale's head into a toilet.

The ginger nut also bashed up the eminently punchable Ian back in 2000 and 2001, for reasons so blindingly obvious to anyone who has watched the weasely businessman's antics that it seems pointless to list them here.

The latest confrontation between the two is part of the Mitchell brothers' attempts to win back the old family assets, some of which are owned by Ian.

An EastEnders source told the Daily Star: "Everyone knows that the Mitchells had a big empire.

"They will believe, with some justification, that they have been conned out of their assets - and they'll want them all back sharpish.

"If that means they have to use violence and intimidation, then they will gladly do so."