In a devastating turn of events, Martin Fowler was killed off the BBC soap during Thursday night’s live episode of EastEnders. The character, who has been a staple on the BBC soap for 40 years, met a tragic end in the explosion in The Queen Vic. Despite his heroic efforts to save Stacey Slater, Martin sadly died after a metal beam fell on him. James Bye, who has portrayed Martin since 2014, has now bid farewell to the role he’s held for over a decade. He took over from previous actor James Alexandrou, while Jon Peyton-Price originally played the character. Martin’s birth was featured in the soap’s debut year.
EastEnders character Martin Fowler (James Bye) died during the soap’s live episode on Thursday
Fans had been speculating about Martin’s untimely demise for weeks, following several hints and references to past storylines. However, the plot took a dramatic twist when Martin stayed behind in the burning building to rescue Stacey on Wednesday night, reports the Mirror. After months of avoiding their feelings, Martin and Stacey admitted their love for each other, but disaster struck as they were about to escape – when the beam fell from the ceiling. Martin managed to push Stacey out of harm’s way, but he couldn’t avoid the falling debris, which crushed his legs. Thursday’s live episode of EastEnders began with Martin in a dire situation, with his death seemingly imminent. Stacey stayed by his side, calling for help as he was pinned down by the beam and screaming in pain.
EastEnders viewers saw Martin Fowler, played by actor James Bye, brutally killed off during the live episode
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
As the episode progressed, Martin suddenly stopped moving and lost consciousness, leading to a panicked reaction from Stacey. He was given morphine to manage the pain, and his breathing became erratic, but Stacey promised to stay with him. In a touching moment, Martin confessed his love for Stacey once more, expressing his desire to never be apart from her again and even proposing marriage. However, paramedics warned Stacey that Martin was at risk of developing crush syndrome, which could lead to kidney problems and cardiac arrest.
The Queen Vic explosion ended in tragedy
Realising something was wrong, Martin delivered a heartfelt speech to Stacey. Tragically, just as they managed to free him, Martin went into cardiac arrest. The episode ended with his heartbreaking death, with Stacey crying out in devastation, leaving fans at home in shock at the death of such an iconic character. James Bye has broken his silence on Martin departing the beloved BBC soap. He 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.”
