Ian Bentley was Sharon Gaskell's flirtatious fiancé and later husband. Ian was a sales representative who arrived in Weatherfield to meet his fiancée Sharon's foster mother Rita Sullivan, who persuaded Sharon to have her wedding in Weatherfield rather than returning to Nottingham. On the morning of the wedding, Rita told Sharon about the affair. Still, Sharon seemed determined to go through with it. During the service, however, Sharon called Ian a liar in front of the assembled congregation and jilted him.