The men of Walford attempt to come to terms with the loss of Martin Fowler (James Bye) in upcoming episodes of EastEnders.
The beloved character died towards the end of last month, during the show’s live episode.
Martin had become trapped in the rubble of the Queen Vic following an explosion. He returned to the wreckage to save a trapped Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), but then became stuck himself when a beam fell on him.
While Martin waited to be freed, Stacey learnt from a paramedic that there was a chance he would suffer from Crush Syndrome, where toxins fill Martin’s body as the metal frame gets removed.
Sadly, this happened, and Martin died as the credits rolled on the instalment.
Discussing his departure, James Bye said: ‘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. 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.’
As Martin’s friends and family try and move forward, it’s Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) who comes up with an idea to try and help.
In the café, she invites Martin’s male friends and encourages them to open up and share how they’re feeling following the traumatic death.
As the week continues, Harvey (Ross Boatman) tells Kathy to put her name forward to cater for Martin’s funeral, but his plan is soon squashed when Jean (Gillian Wright) informs him that Ruby (Louisa Lytton) has already found a replacement.
Kathy’s disappointed, but she’ll have other things on her mind later that day, as she ends up kissing Harvey while at the allotments.
Oh dear!
