James Bye refused ‘weird’ EastEnders request after Martin Fowler’s shocking exit

After the death of Martin Fowler in a fire at the Queen Vic, James Bye left EastEnders. He discusses the forthcoming events and an odd request he made to The Mirror here.

For the first baby born on EastEnders to perish in the Queen Vic inferno is about as calamitous a soap exit as a character can get.

In an equally dramatic move, after playing Martin Fowler for more than a decade, actor James Bye’s next role will be as Mr Darcy in a theatrical production of Death Comes to Pemberley. Speaking exclusively, James, 41, says of his soap death: “It felt a helluva responsibility to die in that way, not only on the soap’s 40th anniversary but live in front of the nation. “

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw first discussed his departure storyline with James last September. James, whose character was born into Albert Square in July 1985, the baby boy of Pauline and Arthur Fowler, continues: “I’m attracted to fear, so I agreed. I’d joined in 2014, so it had been 10 years, effectively all of my 30s, that I’d been on the show.”

“It just felt the right time (to leave)and there were a lot of other things I wanted to do as an actor. It was sad to say goodbye and in an incredibly special live episode, something I’ll never get to do again in my life.” EastEnders fans were on tenterhooks until the final moments – with most guessing arsonist Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman)would perish, but many assuming his fiancee Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) would, too.

No one suspected that fruit ‘n’ veg stallholder Martin would die. “Which is what made it so effective,” says James. “The audience had always loved him and Stacey (Lacey Turner) as a couple, through all their ups and downs. Suddenly, it looked like a happy-ever-after for them and then it was snatched away.”

In the meantime, James was under enormous pressure to keep the game. He claims that he told his wife and that he also made the decision to tell Lacey. It was a very emotional conversation, she said. We had a lot of experiences together.

Good mates with Scott Maslen (who plays Jack Branning), Louisa Lytton (Ruby Allen), James Farrar (Zack Hudson) and Natalie Cassidy, he continues: “They’re the people I’ll miss the most.” He recalls a momentous build up to the big departure day on February 20, saying: “The adrenalin was incredible: nothing could go wrong.

I experienced a sense of calm in my head. However, the actress who was playing the paramedic later admitted that she could feel my heart beat out when she put the electrodes in my chest. He thinks that his acting improved as a result.

He recalls the rehearsals’ playbacks, saying, “There wasn’t enough jeopardy. My persistent suffering and suffering were what was missing. Lacey was upset throughout the rehearsals, I don’t think she’ll mind me saying. She was sobbing, but she couldn’t hide it. I explained to her that she wasn’t required to cry constantly. She said, “I can’t help it. I have no authority over this.

At the final rehearsal, I then lost it. It felt out-of-body when Stacey left to speak with the paramedic. I cried out in disbelief when she returned. I didn’t think anyone would be able to hear what I was saying with my choking sobs when I spoke again. However, the director was delighted. He said that’s how it will be on the live broadcast.

When the collapsed steel beam was finally lifted off Martin’s body, he went into cardiac arrest and died. “Stacey and I lay there for five minutes when it was all over and then fell into each other’s arms, for a cry and a cuddle,” says James. “It had been very much a team effort and we’d got through it together.”

He hasn’t yet watched the live broadcast, though. He shrugs unconvincingly and says, “I just haven’t had the chance.” He continues to be obedient to his funeral scenes, which have yet to be screened, saying, “I’m not sure I want to watch my own cremation, if that’s what it turns out to be. I won’t take it off the record. However, I’m a little caught up when it’s on.

“If I’m honest, I’d find it a bit weird. The art department were asking for pictures of me to put in the order of service. But I said no. I don’t want real photographs of me at my funeral, with my real family cut out.” Married to Victoria since 2012, James lights up when she is mentioned, saying: “She’s my whole world. I honestly think I wouldn’t know how to tie my own shoelaces without her around.”

Parents to Edward, 11, Louis, nine, Hugo, five – Lacey is his godmother, and Davood Ghadami, who played Kush Kazemi, his godfather – and Rufus, aka ‘the Tasmanian Devil, who is ’two in June, they are not planning any more kids. James laughs: “We’ve now drawn a line in the sand.”

He and Victoria met unexpectedly while he was handing out jelly cartons in Sainsbury’s car park next to a 13-foot foam pineapple. He claims that it was a promotion, something that under-performing actors must do to maintain body and soul.

I was attempting to persuade people to enter a draw to win a Caribbean vacation while handing out samples. This stunning woman walks by and began to really care about what I was doing toward the end of the day.

The reason was that Victoria was checking if James was doing a good job at the same company as a mystery shopper. I gave her my phone number after some flirty banter, and they ended up talking about how she texted and we ended up getting together.

Six months later, we moved in together after consuming a large glass of white wine. They remarried in 2012, and they honeymooned in St. Lucia where they remarried in 2023. And she’ll be his rock as he plays Mr. Darcey at the Mill in Sonning, Berkshire, from May 1 through June 28 before making a September tour.

He states, “Most dates can be commutated from our Buckinghamshire residence.” In other words, I won’t need to take the kids to school in the evening to wash them. He says being partnered with Amy Dowden on Strictly in 2022 made him more visible, but he typically doesn’t mind going on the school dates.

He claims that “she had already experienced all the cancer scares at that point,” but that she had become the poster girl for Crohn’s Disease. She is the most lovable, brave person I have met, and we bonded incredibly well. We communicate with one another and maintain communication. She’ll probably stop by to see me on tour.

As for what comes next? “I’ve never been a planner, maybe stupidly so. I’m a bit of a gambler,” he says. “It would be great to do one of those big Netflix dramas. Let’s see what comes along. Martin Fowler changed my life, no question. But I feel he set me up for anything that might now come my way. You’re looking at a happy man.”

Source: Mirror