EastEnders’ original Martin Fowler actor James Alexandrou in surprise return

Martin Fowler has been a central character on EastEnders since his birth in 1985.

Son of soap legends Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) and Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher), he’s been involved in relationships with Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) among others – and is the father of Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) and adoptive father of Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), making him a grandad to Lily’s daughter Charli.

During that time, he’s been played by three different actors. Jon Peyton Price played Martin when he was a child and up to the age of 11, when the role was taken over by James Alexandrou.

During James’s tenure his character was involved in some dramatic storylines.

James Alexandrou recently made a secret return to EastEnders

After sleeping with Sonia, she became pregnant with daughter Chloe, but wanted to raise the child with her boyfriend Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder). He was later sent to prison after causing Jamie’s death in a car accident.

Following this Martin’s life descended further into crime until his marriage to Sonia turned his life around – though the marriage was never an easy one.

James Alexandrou left the role in 2007 and the part was eventually recast, with James Bye arriving in Albert Square in 2014 to play the role he still occupies today.

James Bye’s Martin has had some dramatic storylines alongside Stacey, and it was recently announced that he was heading over to Australia for a few weeks to visit sister Michelle, while the actor took a short break from the show.

Meanwhile James Alexandrou has been busy with extensive theatre work and appearances in TV dramas such as Silent Witness and Call The Midwife. He’s also becoming involved in directing.

He recently spoke to Johnny Seifert on Secure The Insecure Podcast about welcoming James Bye to his new role as Martin, and his recent return to EastEnders.

‘I found out old Jimmy Bye, James Bye got the job,’ he said. ‘I got his number off Natalie Cassidy, I think, so he didn’t know that I had his number, and I just text him out the blue.

‘I said, listen, it’s James Alexandrou. I’m really happy for you. You know, go do whatever you want with [Martin], have fun. And I think he’s done a great job.’

The two ‘Martins’ ended up meeting on the Albert Square set when James Alexandrou made a surprise return to the show – but this time behind the camera.

‘I shadowed as a director. You go and follow the director and see how they direct the show,’ he explained.

’It just so happened that James Bye was on, on the day that I was shadowing. He apparently caught wind of it, and he came on to do a scene, and he kind of went, “Oh, it’s you!” It was a strange moment, it was a really strange moment, because we don’t know each other at all, and the only thing that bonds us are these words on a page called Martin Fowler. It was a really nice moment.’

James said he wouldn’t rule out a return to playing Martin under certain circumstances – the main one, of course, being that the role is currently happily occupied by James Bye.

‘That door’s closed in my head. Maybe if the door was open, if James Bye said, “listen, I’m gone and I don’t want to do it again”, then I’d go, “yeah, maybe”, like a special one off Christmas thing. That might be funny to do that,’ he speculated.

What seems more likely is that we could see James Alexandrou’s name on the end credits as a director one day – and if that happens he said he’d like to direct his former screen wife.

‘I think I’d have a lot of fun doing it,’ he mused. ‘You know, I just have to demand that I would have to direct Natalie Cassidy because that would be the most fun thing to do.’