Who is Ian Whitehead from One Day and what is their importance?

Ian Whitehead is Emma's former boyfriend. They met while working at a Tex-Mex restaurant in India. Ian is described as kind and caring, and he aspires to be a standup comedian. He has a relationship with Emma, and proposes marriage to her, but she rejects it. Ian becomes bitter, but does find love again. When Emma dies, Ian writes to Dexter, telling him that Emma would want him to live and marry again.