As unexpected soap romances go, there’s one up there with the best of them in EastEnders next week as two very random characters get close.

Having been estranged from former fiancée Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) in the wake of her affair with Junior Knight (Micah Balfour), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) shares a warm moment with Priya Nandra-Hart (Sophie Khan-Levy).

Yep, you read that correctly.

It all begins when Cindy attempts to gain access to No.45 but Ian, Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Peter (Thomas Law) all deny her.

Cindy heads to Beale’s Eels to plead with Ian, but it’s not long before accusations fly and Priya comes to his rescue.

While Ian says something typically Ian Beale and accidentally offends her, they later share a drink in The Vic – but things get messy when Cindy, Junior and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) arrive at the pub.

Priya and Ian attempt to make Cindy and Ravi jealous, but Cindy has other ideas.

Back at No.45, Priya and Ian share another drink and share their warm moment, but they are interrupted when Kathy arrives home prematurely.

Priya later invites herself for over for dinner at the Beales’, but Kathy makes her feelings known with some harsh comments.

After she storms out, Ian chases after his new love interest.

Is this really the start of a blossoming new romance?