Ian Beale has a timely message for viewers.

EastEnders has just reminded fans in the UK to go to the polls on General Election Day.

The BBC soap has included a topical election-themed moment between Ian Beale and Harvey Monroe in Thursday’s (July 4) episode.

As Ian was going to cast his vote, he took it upon himself to remind Harvey to do the same and was shocked to learn the taxi driver had no idea what he was talking about.

Harvey explained he’d been busy and forgot about the election, adding: “And anyways, it’s only one vote. What difference does it make?”

“You know what, if everyone thought like that…” Ian began.

Whether to stop Ian in its tracks or suddenly answering to his own political consciousness, Harvey ultimately agreed to go to the polls, but not before reminding Ian it was unlikely they’d vote for “the same people”.

While Ian seems set on exercising his right to vote and is happy for everyone to know, he hasn’t been as open about his recent strange behaviour.

The character returned to Walford with Cindy and Peter last year, and appears to be concealing something sketchy from his family.

In recent scenes, Ian lied about wanting to run for council again. He doubled down on his deceit telling Cindy he’d go to Manchester for a leadership course. Peter checked with the council and realised his suspicions were correct as his father had no meeting there. What is Ian hiding?