EastEnders fans were left in floods of tears on Thursday night as Martin Fowler passed away in a live episode of the BBC soap, and now the character’s original actor has made a savage dig about the show
Soap legend James Alexandrou has had his say on the shock exit of Martin Fowler from EastEnders. In a dramatic twist during Thursday 20 February’s live episode that was part of the show’s 40th-anniversary celebrations, Martin – currently portrayed by James Bye – met a tragic end when he was crushed under a metal beam after an explosion at the Queen Vic. Following the jaw-dropping scenes, James Alexandrou, who played Martin from 1996 to 2007, couldn’t resist a cheeky jab about his own stint in Albert Square.
Taking to Instagram, the 39 year old actor shared a snapshot of the gripping episode as it played out on his TV, jokingly commenting: “Somehow I reckon I’ll still be asked ‘when are you going back to EastEnders?'” Throughout his tenure on the iconic BBC One drama, James tackled some hefty storylines, including grappling with a stalker, the agonising choice to give up his and Sonia’s baby for adoption, and dealing with the aftermath of Jamie Mitchell’s fatal accident.
In 2007, James decided to bid farewell to the soap to pursue fresh opportunities, despite the producers’ hesitance to write off a member of one of the original families. The character of Martin left the Square with wife Sonia to embark on new adventures following the death of his mother, the legendary Pauline Fowler.
“I’ve decided to leave the show to experience other aspects of my industry,” James confessed at the time. “Having turned 21, I felt it was a good time to leave. I owe everything to the show and would love to come back one day – that’s if EastEnders would have me,” reports the Mirror.
Martin made a triumphant return in 2014, this time with James Bye stepping into the role, earning him praise from soap fans who dubbed his portrayal as the “best recast ever”. Reflecting on his departure after Thursday’s explosive live episode, James Bye said: “Saying goodbye is not easy, but after 10 years at EastEnders and on the night of the shows epic 40th anniversary – the time felt right. It’s an honour to leave on a story of this magnitude. A huge thank you to all the fans of the show – EastEnders wouldn’t be what it is without you – and to the BBC and EastEnders team for trusting me with this role for so many years. This fruit and veg man will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s time to look forward, and I’m incredibly excited for what the future holds. RIP Martin Fowler.”
Thursday night’s live episode was a heart-wrenching watch as it dealt with the aftermath of Martin getting trapped under a beam while saving Stacey Slater (portrayed by Lacey Turner) earlier in the week. She stayed by his side as emergency services worked tirelessly to free him.
The climax of the live episode saw Martin tragically pass away just after the beam was lifted from his legs, with Stacey holding him as he lay motionless on the Queen Vic’s floor. His fate was revealed to other residents when they heard Stacey’s anguished scream, leading to Ruby collapsing outside the pub. The episode ended on a poignant note with Stacey lying next to Martin as the credits rolled.
Throughout the week, fans had been speculating that Martin’s journey on the soap might conclude during the live episode. EastEnders had hinted prior to the 40th anniversary specials that not all characters would escape the blazing pub unscathed.
