It is EastEnder’s 40th birthday and the BBC went all out to mark the occasion, with an hour-long special on Wednesday, followed by a live broadcast on Thursday night.

Viewers were left devastated as Martin Fowler (James Bye) died after being crushed by a beam following the explosion of the Queen Vic.

He was trapped after saving his ex-wife Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) and the pair shared a tender moment together, leading to him proposing to her.

However, Martin soon succumbed to his injuries and pᴀssed away, leaving Stacey sobbing over her body.

Meanwhile, fans finally got to have their own say, as they voted for Denise Fox to end up with Jack Branning, choosing him over Ravi Gulati. 

And Sonia Fowler went into labour and gave birth to a baby girl, with the help of Bianca and Lauren, who she named Julia.

Read all the updates with MailOnline below.

 

21:05

Did you catch the special meaning behind Sonia’s baby name?

Sonia, sat in the back of an ambulance, cradled her newborn daughter and revealed she named her Julia.

Fans quickly took to X to speculate that the baby was named after Julia Smith, one of the creators and first producers of EastEnders.

As the credits rolled following the death of Martin Fowler, an alternate version of the credits, Julia’s theme, played.

EastEnders’ Sonia Fowler gives birth to baby girl at the Queen VicAfter becoming trapped in the Queen Vic with sister Bianca and cousin Lauren after the explosion, Sonia was left with no choice but to give birth on the floor of the pub.Mail Online

20:35

Stacey has had bad luck with live episodes…

Viewers can’t help but point out that things didn’t go so well for Stacey during EastEnders’ 25th anniversary live episode back in 2010.

The iconic episode saw Stacey’s husband Bradley Branning fall to his death from the roof of the Queen Vic.

Now 15 years later, her ex-husband/fiance Martin has died underneath the destroyed Queen Vic.

20:11

What an episode!

A lot of drama and action was packed into that 30 mins, with an episode worthy of a 40 year anniversary.

And it seems viewers are suitably impressed as well, with the actors’ live performances being well-deservedly commended.

While previously EastEnders live episodes have not always been pulled off so smoothly, the special appeared to have gone off without a hitch and with several incredible performance from the talented cast.

20:04

A life and a death…

However, as Sonia’s daughter takes her first breath, Martin’s heart stops.

Stacey screams in fear as the paramedics try to save him.

Walford’s residents gather outside and cheer as Bianca, Lauren, Sonia and the baby are rescued.

Sonia speaks to her daughter in the ambulance, naming her Julia and telling her the world is about to begin.

However, the happy mood is destroyed outside, when the crowd hears the agonised screams of Stacey as she lies over Martin’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅ body…

20:00

Sonia begs for her baby to breathe…

Sonia finally gives birth to a beautiful little girl.

But Bianca and Lauren panic as they realise the baby isn’t breathing and is turning blue.

Screaming at Sonia to do something, she eventually snaps out of fugue state and leaps into action.

She wraps her baby in her arms and works to her the little one breathing, begging her to stay alive.

And just when all seems lost, the baby lets out a cry at last!

19:57

The tears are well and truly flowing…

Right when everything seems to be going right for Martin and Stacey, the paramedics warn her he could have a heart attack once they lift the beam, because of so-called ‘crush syndrome’.

He gives her his planned wedding speech, calling himself the ‘luckiest man in the world’ and the pair break into sobs as they share a kiss.

Will it be their last?

19:55

Jean and Ruby almost come to blows

Finally…a bit of aggro!

Jean and Ruby nearly come to blows in the cafe after residents learn Stacey and Martin are together in the Vic.

Jean accuses Ruby of being selfish before EastEnders stalwart Ian Beale steps in to tell everyone to get out on the Square and support then.

There’s plenty of drama left in this…

19:53

The public have spoken…

Denise voices her love for Jack, choosing him over Ravi.

She tells him: ‘I feel safe wit you Jack, i want to feel safe.’

However, he is quick to suggest things can’t go back, saying: ‘But what about Ravi? What about when you want a bit of danger?’

Denise denies she wants Ravi, saying they would never work out as they’re ‘from two different worlds’.

She tells Jack: ‘I see a future with you Jack. Our history runs deep’.

Looking at his most serious, Jack appears unconvinced at first before he sticks his hand out and tells her, ‘I’m Jack Branning’.

Denise calls him a ‘mᴀssive dork’ before the couple kiss.

19:49

Sonia’s baby is coming!

It’s up to a reluctant Bianca to play midwife as Sonia prepares to give birth in the rubble.

But she can’t help but feel that the less-than-ideal setting is a sign that things are to go wrong.

However, viewers can’t help but laugh at the scenes of Bianca and Lauren psyching themselves up to deliver the baby.

19:43

Martin pops the question!

Emotions are running high and it’s time for Stacey to confess her feelings.

She tells Martin she loves him and they both admit they never want to be apart again.

And despite his pain, Martin decided to take the moment to ask her to marry him.

Stacey scoffs at first, saying he needs to speak to Ruby and insisting she doesn’t wnat a wedding nor will she change her name.

But she soon succumbs to his charms and says: ‘Yes’.

19:39

Has Denise made her choice?

After getting some sage advice from Linda, Denise goes to see Jack.

But a pᴀssing Ravi spots her heading inside…

Has Denise made her choice? Or is this another red herring on the part of bosses…

19:35

It’s not looking good for Martin already…

It’s immediate chaos on Albert Square…

In the Queen Vic, Martin screams out in agony in front of Stacey.

It appears he has survived the collapsed building but soon falls silent after telling Stacey to leave him.

Fans are understandably distraught as a sobbing Stacey begs for him to wake up…

19:33

It’s TIME!

Everyone tune into BBC One to find out Martin’s fate!

19:22

The familiar faces keep coming!

While EastEnders bosses have brought back a number of fan-favourite characters a a special anniversary surprise.

Last week saw viewers left open-mouthed after soap legends Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) and Minty Peterson (Cliff Parisi) returned to the Queen Vic for Billy Mitchell’s stag do.

It marked the two legends’ first appearnce on our screens in years as they made a shock arrival at the pub to celebrate their pal getting married to Honey (Emma Bunton).

EastEnders fans ‘scream’ as two Walford legends return to Queen VicThe fan favourites surprised the pair in the pub and were welcomed with plenty of cheers.Mail Online

19:16

The return of a Walford legend!

One of the biggest surprises and treats for fans in Wednesday’s special was the return of Anita Dobson as the iconic Angie Watts.

The actress, 75, played the Queen Vic’s first landlady from the show’s very first episode in 1985 before bowing out three years later.

Anita’s character Angie famously died off-screen of alcohol poisoning in 2002 but she returned in the form of a vision for her daughter Sharon – played by Leтιтia Dean – in a heartwrenching scene.

And her shock return left viewers at home ‘screaming’, with them later taking to social media to call it the ‘tv moment of the year’.

Anita Dobson stuns fans as she returns as Angie Watts on EastEndersThe actress, 75, played the Queen Vic’s first landlady from the show’s very first episode in 1985 before bowing out three-years later.Mail Online

19:12

Is Martin ᴅᴇᴀᴅ?

Viewers are also desperate to know the fate of Martin Fowler, after Wednesday’s explosive episode.

Martin (James Bye) and his ex-wife Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) were among many Walford residents trapped in the Queen Vic after Tuesday’s horror explosion.

While many of those trapped inside made a lucky escape, Martin insisted on remaining inside in order to help Stacey who was trapped under rubble.

At the end of the episode, as they appeared ready to rekindle their relationship, a metal bar on the roof collapsed.

Martin pushed Stacey out of the way but became trapped under the bar himself, screaming in pain as the credits began to role…

EastEnders fans shocked as Martin Fowler’s fate hangs in the balanceMartin ( James Bye ) and his ex-wife Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) were among many Walford residents trapped in the Queen Vic after Tuesday night’s horror explosion.Mail Online

19:10

Who will Denise choose? YOU DECIDE

For the first time ever, viewers will have their say in the storyline as a public vote opened after the end of yesteday’s episode with fans getting to decide which man Denise Fox will choose.

Denise (Diane Parish) has found herself torn between Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) in recent weeks.

She has a long history with ex-husband Jack but the corrupt cop previously cheated on her with Stacey Slater.

Denise has plenty of chemistry with secret lover Ravi but he previously killed the man he thought was his dad and he has also dated Denise’s daughter Chelsea.

Who have the public decided is the one for her?

19:07

It’s almost time to go LIVE to Albert Square!

Follow along with MailOnline to see all the updates as EastEnders celebrates 40 years on the air!