Yahoo News EastEnders' former Martin Fowler actor makes surprise return
Former EastEnders star James Alexandrou, who previously played Martin Fowler, has revealed he recently returned to the soap in a different role.
The actor, known for his stint on the BBC soap between 1996 and 2007, has gone back to Walford in a surprise capacity that got him closer to James Bye, who currently plays Martin.
"I shadowed as a director. You go and follow the director and see how they direct the show," Alexandrou told Johnny Seifert on Secure The Insecure podcast.
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"It just so happened that James Bye was on, on the day that I was shadowing. He apparently caught wind of it, and he came on to do a scene, and he kind of went, 'Oh, it's you!'" he revealed as he recalled the encounter.
"It was a strange moment, it was a really strange moment, because we don't know each other at all, and the only thing that bonds us are these words on a page called 'Martin Fowler'. It was a really nice moment."
The two actors had previously spoken when Bye took on the role, with Alexandrou messaging him to wish him good luck.
"I found out old Jimmy Bye, James Bye got the job. I got his number off Natalie Cassidy (who plays Martin's ex-wife Sonia Fowler), I think, so he didn't know that I had his number, and I just text him out the blue," Alexandrou said.
"I said, 'Listen, it's James Alexandrou. I'm really happy for you. You know, go do whatever you want with [Martin], have fun'. And I think he's done a great job."
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Speaking about a possible return as Martin, Alexandrou hasn't ruled out a surprise appearance if Bye were to leave, but he thinks it's more likely to see his name in the credits as director.
"That door's closed in my head. Maybe if the door was open, if James Bye said, 'Listen, I'm gone and I don't want to do it again', then I'd go, 'Yeah, maybe', like a special one-off Christmas thing. That might be funny to do that," he said.
"I think I'd have a lot of fun doing it," he added about a possible, more permanent return behind the camera.
"You know, I just have to demand that I would have to direct Natalie Cassidy because that would be the most fun thing to do."
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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