When Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman) gives birth to Bobby, her estranged husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) refuses to acknowledge the possibility of being Bobby's father because he had a vasectomy prior to Bobby's conception; also, Laura had been unfaithful with Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves). When Bobby (Kevin Curran) needs a blood transfusion, Ian is proved to be Bobby's father and Laura names Ian as Bobby's father when she registers his birth. Ian does not find out until Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) finds the birth certificate after Laura's sudden death. Afterwards, Ian brings Bobby to live with him and his half-siblings, Peter Beale (Joseph Shade/James Martin/Thomas Law/Ben Hardy/Dayle Hudson) and Lucy Beale (Casey Anne Rothery/Melissa Suffield/Hetti Bywater). Ian's partner Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), joins the household; she becomes Bobby's stepmother and values him as her own child, increasingly so following an emergency hysterectomy.