EastEnders' original Martin Fowler actor makes sly dig as bosses reveal their secret tactics to hide

Описание: EastEnders' original Martin Fowler actor makes sly dig as bosses reveal their secret tactics to hide the character's shock death

Former EastEnders star James Alexandrou has broken his silence after the dramatic live episode that saw Martin Fowler killed off during the soap's 40th anniversary special.

Martin - played by James Bye since 2014 - died in Thursday night's live broadcast after being crushed by a metal beam following a Queen Vic explosion.

But while fans were left in shock, James Alexandrou, who played the role from 1996 to 2007, couldn't resist a cheeky dig.

Taking to Instagram, the actor, 39, shared a snap of his TV screen as he tuned in for the big moment, joking: 'Somehow I reckon I'll still be asked "when are you going back to EastEnders?"'

James left the soap in 2007, opting not to return when the role was recast with James Bye seven years later.

His Martin exited Walford to travel with Sonia after the death of his mother, Pauline Fowler.
At the time, James said: 'I've decided to leave the show to experience other aspects of my industry.

'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'

Meanwhile, EastEnders bosses have now revealed the extreme lengths they went to in order to keep Martin's death under wraps.

Cast member Kellie Bright who plays Linda Carter shared behind-the-scenes snaps on Instagram, including images of James Bye and Lacey Turner who plays Stacey Slater in matching green T-shirts featuring the word '#Startin' - a mix of Stacey and Martin.

The back of the shirts read 'TODD & WINNIE 4 EVA,' a nod to their secret codenames in the live episode's script.

Kellie explained: 'The matching T-shirts were bought by James and they are the code names they were given in the script! Why?? I have no idea.'

She also praised James and Lacey for delivering 'the most beautiful and heartbreaking performances,' adding that saying goodbye to a co-star after a decade is tough - 'but to do that LIVE!?!!?! It was SO special.'

James himself bid farewell to the show in an emotional statement, saying: 'Saying goodbye is not easy, but after 10 years at EastEnders - and on the night of the show's epic 40th anniversary - the time felt right. It's an honour to leave on a story of this magnitude. RIP Martin Fowler.'

EastEnders fans are still reeling from the explosive storyline, with many hailing the live episode as one of the soap's most gripping moments in years.
Wednesday night's episode saw Walford rocked by a deadly explosion at the Queen Vic during the 40th anniversary live episode.

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