Read more: Dad's Army creators were 'woke' back in 1960s and 1970s without even knowing itHe trained at the esteemed Old Vic Theatre School in London and went on to star in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.But most memorably, Ian joined the cast of EastEnders in 2001 as Derek Harkinson, a gay pal of Pauline Fowler. After Pauline tried to seduce him, he came out as gay in some memorable soap scenes.