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 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

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

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.

EastEnders fans are in shock after one of the show's most iconic characters died in tonight's live episode. Martin Fowler - who was the first baby to be born in the show - died after proposing to Stacey Slater. Viewers watched in horror while paramedics fought to save Martin who had been crushed by a metal beam.

Following the death of Martin Folwer in EastEnders 40th anniversary live show on Thursday (February 20), many fans of the BBC soap are questioning how he overcame a similar incident. Martin, played by James Bye for the past 11 years,