EastEnders has aired the shock death of a major character who died in the 40th anniversary live episode
EastEnders fans were left in utter disbelief over the bombshell death in the drama-packed 40th-anniversary live episode.
The BBC One soap threw a huge bash to mark its four decades on our screens this week – and my, they turned up the drama. Thursday (February 20) saw viewers glued to a nail-biting, 30-minute live episode.
The high-octane scenes followed hot on the heels of the disastrous Queen Vic explosion and blaze, which saw several Albert Square residents teetering on the edge of life and death, not least Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) who met his maker.
The iconic boozer was full of the biggest names from the show, including Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) who was caught mid-labour, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). Adding to the tension, Martin Fowler (James Bye) and his old flame Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) found themselves in a precarious situation when a hefty beam clattered down onto Martin, trapping him in place.
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On the night of the nerve-wracking Thursday episode (February 20), emergency services swarmed in and took charge, with Martin’s outlook appearing quite grim. In a tear-jerking moment, Stacey and Martin dreamed of retying the knot, with Martin delivering an emotional monologue about his feelings for Stacey, reports Plymouth Live.
But the storyline took a sorrowful twist as Martin suffered a heart attack from his injuries and passed away. Understandably, fans were absolutely livid over the plot twist that saw the end of Martin.
On social media, viewers vented their frustration, with one stand-out comment being, “Martin was one of my favourite characters! Such a bad decision.” Another netizen vented, saying: “No I’m fuming that was such a good episode why did they have to go and ruin it.”
One viewer expressed their emotional state, stating: “A HUGE CRYUNG MESS, nobody speak to me because I am sobbing.” Another fan shared their disappointment, writing: “This is not what I wanted/expected for the 40th anniversary! First jack wins the vote and then Martin dies.. absolutely gutted.”
James Bye, who played Martin Fowler, spoke about his departure, saying: “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.”
He added: “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.”
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
