Martin Fowler

[Becksfanz]

oh boy i cant wait for his leaving scenes as he has become borrriiingggg! and his storylines are crap

[.:SpIcYsPy:.]

I am getting a bit bored of him anyways. He did well...

[tammyy2j]

Martin and Sonia became boring as soon as they hooked up and got married. I hope Martin kills Sonia and Naomi and leaves Walford then.

[dddMac1]

good luck to James Alexandrou will miss him

[Perdita]

James Alexandrou has said that he is not ruling out a return to EastEnders.

The 28-year-old actor joined the BBC One soap as Martin Fowler in 1996, later leaving in 2007.

Despite Alexandrou's screen wife Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) returning to Albert Square this year, he has said that he will not be coming back to the show any time soon.

Speaking to What's On TV, Alexandrou said: "Natalie called me when she went back in it and she was so happy and it seems like there's a really nice atmosphere there, and I know that when Danny Dyer came in it really energised it and he's great for the show.

"For the first time in a long time, I was really going, 'Could I do it? Could I do it?' But I don't think the time's right for me right now. But it's never a no - it's just not right now."

Alexandrou, who is currently starring in a West End production of Othello as Iago, told Digital Spy in 2011 that he was not interested in returning to EastEnders in the foreseeable future.

[Timalay]

Why don't EastEnders bring back Martin now we've got Sonia and Rebecca back. Ok if James Alexandrou doesn't want to do it, just recast him (wouldn't be the first time EastEnders have done this).

[Scarlet Fever]

Why don't EastEnders bring back Martin now we've got Sonia and Rebecca back. Ok if James Alexandrou doesn't want to do it, just recast him (wouldn't be the first time EastEnders have done this).

Agreed - it wouldnt be too hard to recast, I think it would be really good to bring him back.

[Scarlet Fever]

Why don't EastEnders bring back Martin now we've got Sonia and Rebecca back. Ok if James Alexandrou doesn't want to do it, just recast him (wouldn't be the first time EastEnders have done this).

Agreed - it wouldnt be too hard to recast, I think it would be really good to bring him back.

[Timalay]

I think the way EE producers have Sonia at moment, it make very unbelievable they she really is back with Martin.

[Perdita]

EastEnders bosses have recast Albert Square original Martin Fowler.

Jon Peyton Price and James Alexandrou have portrayed Martin Fowler on and off since 1985, but now James Bye will be taking on the role.

James Bye
© Twitter / James Bye
James Bye is taking over the role of Martin Fowler

Bye announced that "it is an honour" for him to be joining the cast of EastEnders.

"It's a huge opportunity for me to put my own stamp on an iconic character and I can't wait to get started," he added.

EastEnders producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said that the recasting had been undertaken with the endorsement of James Alexandrou, who played Martin from 1996 to 2007.

"With James Alexandrou's blessing - something which was very important to us - we have recast everyman Martin Fowler after extensive auditions," Treadwell-Collins said.

He added: "Martin is an EastEnders original - the first baby born on the Square and part of the show's roots - and, as we celebrate 30 years on Albert Square, it's important to look backwards as we move forwards."

Troubled Martin's most well-known storyline involved his marriage to Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), who recently returned to Albert Square when the couple's relationship hit a rough patch.

Martin will be attempting to repair his marriage when he shows up on the Square this winter.

New EastEnders cast addition Bye's previous screen credits include parts in The Great Train Robbery and The Hooligan Factory.

EastEnders insiders first tipped that a major character would be recast several weeks ago.