EastEnders star James Bye has spoken out about the demise of Martin Fowler in tonight's live episode, with him having shared a parting message in an emotional statement

Martin Fowler, played by James Bye, was killed off in the live episode of EastEnders after spending 40 years on the BBC soap and the actor has explained the reason behind the brutal exit.

James Bye took over the role of Martin Fowler when the character returned to Walford after a seven-year absence in 2014. The character was the first baby to be born on the show to parents Pauline and Arthur Fowler (Wendy Richard and Bill Treacher).

James Bye has been a familiar face on our screens for years, starring in EastEnders as Martin Fowler, but away from the BBC soap, he leads a very different life with his wife and four children

Cast your mind back to EastEnders’ 25th anniversary in 2010 and you will remember how Stacey lost her first husband Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) during a live episode. He fell from the roof of The Queen Vic as he and Stacey went on the run from the police after Stacey was revealed as Archie Mitchell’s (Larry Lamb) killer.

Vicki Fowler to return to EastEnders for her uncle Martin’s funeral - It comes after Martin Fowler died of a cardiac arrest in Thursday’s live episode of the BBC soap.

James Bye is best known for playing Martin Fowler on EastEnders but the character has been killed off after suffering from Crush syndrome in the Queen Vic explosion