EastEnders' Martin Fowler original actor makes brutal dig after sad soap death
Former Martin Fowler actor James Alexandrou has broken his silence after the iconic EastEnders character was killed off on the BBC One soap during the 40th anniversary live death
Former Martin Fowler actor James Alexandrou has broken his silence after the iconic EastEnders character was killed off on the BBC One soap during the 40th anniversary live deathEastEnders' Martin Fowler original actor makes brutal dig after sad soap death (
Image: BBC)
Soap star James Alexandrou has spoken out about Martin Fowler's sudden departure from EastEnders.
Martin - who has been played by James Bye, 40, since 2014 - died in Thursday night's live episode of the BBC show as part of its 40th anniversary week. He had become trapped under a metal beam following an explosion at the Queen Vic. Taking to Instagram following the explosive episode to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the BBC One soap, James Alexandrou, who played Martin from 1996 until 2007 made a savage quip about his time on the soap.
James, 39, took to his stories to share a screenshot of his TV screen as he tuned into the long-awaited episode. Alongside it, he quipped: "Somehow I reckon I'll still be asked 'when are you going back to EastEnders?". During his time on the BBC One soap, James was involved in some major plots - tackling a stalker, the heartbreaking decision to put his and Sonia's daughter up for adoption, and the accident that claimed Jamie Mitchell's life.
James joked about his comeback on Instagram (
Image:
Instagram/jamesalexandrou)
James Alexandrou played Martin from 1996 until 2007 (
Image:
Piers Allardyce/REX/Shutterstock)
In 2007, the former soap star chose to explore new horizons, although the showrunners were reluctant to kill off a member of an inaugural family. Martin's storyline saw him and wife Sonia setting off to travel following his mother and iconic matriarch Pauline Fowler's death.
"I've decided to leave the show to experience other aspects of my industry," James revealed back then. "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 RSVP Live. Martin made a comeback in 2014, except this time, James Bye was at the helm, with soap aficionados hailing his take on the character as the "best recast ever".
Speaking about his exit after the explosive live episode on Thursday, James Be 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 saw the aftermath of Martin getting stuck under the beam whilst rescuing Stacey Slater (played by Lacey Turner) earlier this week. She was by his side as paramedics and firefighters worked to free him. The end of the live episode saw Martin pass away moments after the beam was pulled off his legs, with Stacey cradling him as he lay lifeless on the floor of the Queen Vic. Other residents discovered his fate after hearing her scream, with Ruby seen falling to the floor outside the pub. The closing moment of the episode saw Stacey lying beside Martin as the credits rolled.
Fans had been convinced all week that Martin's story on the soap may come to an end during the live episode, with EastEnders teasing ahead of the 40th anniversary specials that not everyone would make it out of the burning pub alive.
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .