Martin Fowler (EastEnders)

Martin Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. The character was played by Jon Peyton-Price from Martin's introduction 1985 until 1996, by James Alexandrou from 1996 until 2007 and by James Bye from 2014 until 2025 when the character was tragically killed-off during the 40th anniversary live episode. After Alexandrou took over the role, Martin became part of the regular cast, and was featured in prominent storylines having a baby Bex Fowler (Jade Sharif/Jasmine Armfield) with Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy); developing a romantic crush on Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), which was not reciprocated; accidentally killing Sonia's former fiancé, Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder) after running him over in his car, which results in Martin being imprisoned for Jamie's death and subsequently feuding with Jamie's relative Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden); enduring a problematic marriage with Sonia; being stalked by Sarah Cairns (Alison Pargeter); and coping with the deaths of both his brother, Mark Fowler (Todd Carty), and mother, Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard). Alexandrou quit the role in 2006, and Martin departed on 2 February 2007 leaving Walford alongside Bex and Sonia.

In October 2014, it was announced that executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins decided to reintroduce Martin, with the role being recast to James Bye; Martin returned on 5 December 2014. After his return in 2014, Martin divorced Sonia; married Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner); found out that Stacey's son Arthur Fowler is actually the son of his best friend, Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami); survived a bus crash; spent a two-week stint in prison for assaulting a police officer; experienced the premature birth of his daughter Hope Fowler; briefly separated from Stacey after discovering her one-night stand with her former lover Max Branning (Jake Wood); feuded with both Kush and Stacey's cousin Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) over Arthur's custody; dealt with Bex's disappearance and attempted suicide; been blackmailed by Phil's son Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) into committing crimes for him; ended his marriage to Stacey in an attempt to protect her and their children against the death threats made towards them by Ben; had a one-night stand with Stacey's best friend, Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton); descended into crime; been involved in a hit-and-run accident; kidnapped Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) and faked his death with help from Linda Carter (Kellie Bright); briefly reunited with Sonia; had a year-long marriage to Ruby; discovered that his stepdaughter, Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), is pregnant at the age of twelve; learnt that Ruby had secretly had his son, Roman Allen; led a campaign against the Market's closure; and briefly reconciled with Stacey during the show's 40th anniversary episodes before dying from crush injuries sustained after an explosion at The Queen Vic.

Martin was absent for two months, between 2 August and 4 October 2019, as part of Stacey's temporary exit storyline. Martin again departed on 22 January 2024, after Bye took a break from the show, before returning on 18 March. Bye departed the serial on 20 February 2025 during the 40th anniversary live episode after he died to cardiac arrest.