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'EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt working on burger stall while on break from the soap

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 03:  Adam Woodyatt  attends The British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 3, 2017 in Manchester, England. The Soap Awards will be aired on June 6 on ITV at 8pm.  (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Adam Woodyatt surprised 'EastEnders' fans when he was spotted serviing up burgers at a food festival. (Getty Images)

EastEnders star Adam Woodyatt appears to be enjoying a busman's holiday while on a break from the soap - spending his spare time working on a burger stall.

The 53-year-old actor - who has played chip shop owner Ian Beale in the BBC soap for 36 years - has been on sabbatical from the BBC show since January.

Woodyatt made a surprise appearance at foodie event Pub In The Park in Buckinghamshire recently - flipping burgers.

His friends from The Star Inn revealed the soap star had been helping out to staff their stall at the live music and food festival event, "putting a shift in front of house", serving gourmet burgers.

Read more: Adam Woodyatt updates soap fans on his ‘EastEnders’ return

Woodyatt was even heard joking with customers that he wasn't really Ian Beale, and when the stall sold out he shared one of his famous lines from the show, "I've got nothing left."

The actor has been on a break from EastEnders, touring the country in a stage adaptation of Peter James hit crime novel Looking Good Dead.

During lockdown restrictions on theatres he took to the road in a motorhome, living in fields and enjoying fishing and cycling in the countryside.

He admitted: "I am loving my break, I’m having a ball."

Beale fled Albert Square in the middle of the night after discovering his wife Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) had been poisoning him.

Adam Woodyatt plays Ian Beal, who fled Albert Square in the middle of the night earlier this year. (BBC)
Adam Woodyatt plays Ian Beal, who fled Albert Square in the middle of the night earlier this year. (BBC)

Woodyatt revealed in July he won't be returning until 2022.

He said: “I won’t be going back until this time next year at the absolute earliest. I’m committed to touring with Looking Good Dead until the end of October. I’m then going to America because my daughter is getting married.”

Woodyatt is the soap’s longest-serving cast member, having played Ian Beale since 1985.

Read more: Adam Woodyatt living in a motorhome as he explores wild side

The actor's representative confirmed last year that he had split from his wife in August 2019.

Woodyatt married dancer Beverley Sharp in 1998 and they have two children together.

Watch: All the latest EastEnders gossip