Former EastEnders star James Alexandrou has broken his silence after the dramatic live episode that saw Martin Fowler killed off during the soap’s 40th anniversary special.

Martin – played by James Bye since 2014 – died in Thursday night’s live broadcast after being crushed by a metal beam following a Queen Vic explosion. 

But while fans were left in shock, James Alexandrou, who played the role from 1996 to 2007, couldn’t resist a cheeky dig.

Taking to Instagram, the actor, 39, shared a snap of his TV screen as he tuned in for the big moment, joking: ‘Somehow I reckon I’ll still be asked “when are you going back to EastEnders?”‘

James left the soap in 2007, opting not to return when the role was recast with James Bye seven years later. 

His Martin exited Walford to travel with Sonia after the death of his mother, Pauline Fowler. 

Former EastEnders star James Alexandrou has broken his silence after the dramatic live episode that saw Martin Fowler killed off during the soap’s 40th anniversary special

At the time, James said: ‘I’ve decided to leave the show to experience other aspects of my industry.

‘Having turned 21, I felt it was a good time to leave. I owe everything to the show and would love to come back one day – that’s if EastEnders would have me’

Meanwhile, EastEnders bosses have now revealed the extreme lengths they went to in order to keep Martin’s death under wraps.

Cast member Kellie Bright who plays Linda Carter shared behind-the-scenes snaps on Instagram, including images of James Bye and Lacey Turner who plays Stacey Slater in matching green T-shirts featuring the word ‘#Startin’ – a mix of Stacey and Martin. 

The back of the shirts read ‘TODD & WINNIE 4 EVA,’ a nod to their secret codenames in the live episode’s script.

Kellie explained: ‘The matching T-shirts were bought by James and they are the code names they were given in the script! Why?? I have no idea.’

She also praised James and Lacey for delivering ‘the most beautiful and heartbreaking performances,’ adding that saying goodbye to a co-star after a decade is tough – ‘but to do that LIVE!?!!?! It was SO special.’

James himself bid farewell to the show in an emotional statement, saying: ‘Saying goodbye is not easy, but after 10 years at EastEnders – and on the night of the show’s epic 40th anniversary – the time felt right. It’s an honour to leave on a story of this magnitude. RIP Martin Fowler.’

EastEnders fans are still reeling from the explosive storyline, with many hailing the live episode as one of the soap’s most gripping moments in years.

Martin died in Thursday night’s live broadcast after being crushed by a metal beam following a Queen Vic explosion, but while fans were left in shock, James, who played the role from 1996 to 2007, couldn’t resist a cheeky dig (pictured in 2004)

Taking to Instagram, the 39-year-old shared a snap of his TV screen as he tuned in for the big moment, joking: ‘Somehow I reckon I’ll still be asked “when are you going back to EastEnders?”‘

Meanwhile, it’s now been revealed the extreme lengths bosses went to in order to keep Martin’s live death under wraps – giving it a code name of ‘Startin’ – a mash up of the characters names Stacey and Martin (pictured: Lacey Turner and James Bye who play Stacey and Martin in their coded T-shirts)

The back of the shirts read ‘TODD & WINNIE 4 EVA,’ a nod to their secret codenames in the live episode’s script

Wednesday night’s episode saw Walford rocked by a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly explosion at the Queen Vic during the 40th anniversary live episode.

Viewers had been left a cliffhanger after Martin became trapped under a steel beam in the ruins.

However, in a heartbreaking twist, during Thursday’s live episode viewers were left devastated as the fan favourite  was killed off in tragic scenes as he died from crush syndrome.

At first, it appeared that Martin had been successfully rescued from underneath the beam, but his heart then stopped as firefighters rushed to try and save him.

His ex-wife Stacey was left in floods of tears as Martin died in front of her eyes just moments after he declared his love for her and proposed.

The heartbreaking episode ended with Stacey hugging Martin’s lifeless body while her gut-wrenching screams echoed through the pub, confirming the tragedy.

The emotional scenes saw on/off couple Martin and Stacey share a tearful final conversation while he firefighters tried to rescue him from beneath the beam.

After months of avoiding their feelings, Martin declared his love for Stacey and proposed, promising her any future in or out of Walford as they decided to give their relationship another chance.

‘I truly, madly, head over heels, love you,’ Martin declared. ‘I don’t ever want to be apart from you again, alright?’

‘Will you marry me?’ he then asked Stacey, who said there was no need to have another ‘party’ to celebrate their union.

Persuading her, he said: ‘It’s you and me showing the world how much we love each other,’ and told her he wanted to make a wedding speech about her.

It comes as EastEnders fans were left devastated as fan favourite Martin Fowler was killed off in tragic scenes during the 40th anniversary live episode

Just moments before his death, Martin declared his love for Stacey and proposed to her, promising her any kind of future either in or out of Walford she wanted 

His ex-wife Stacey was left in floods of tears as Martin died in front of her eyes moments after he declared his love for her and proposed

‘So is that a yes?’ Martin asked her, prompting Stacey to giggle and reply: ‘Yes!’ 

However, their happiness was short-lived and Stacey began to worry that something was wrong and upon speaking to a paramedic, made a heartbreaking discovery.

Read More EastEnders’ Sonia Fowler gives birth to baby girl on the floor of the Queen Vic

The medic told her that once the beam was lifted, Martin’s body would be flooded with toxins and he was at risk of crush syndrome because of his injuries.

After being told to say her goodbyes to Martin, Stacey couldn’t bring herself to tell him about his tragic fate, but he soon realised upon seeing her devastation.

They had a heartbreaking farewell as, through tears, Martin told Stacey the words he would have told her on their wedding day after his proposal.

Sharing what his speech would have been, he began: ‘No pressure but I have loved this woman since the very first moment I saw her.

‘I thought she was the Sєxiest thing I’ve ever clapped my eyes on. It’s always been Stace because she feels like home and adventure wrapped into one.’

Martin first arrived in Walford on July 30, 1985, and was played by Jon Peyton-Price and then James Alexandrou, before James Bye (pictured) took on the role in 2014

In a nod to EastEnders’ 40th anniversary, he added: ‘I know that this time and we are going to be in here in the Vic celebrating our anniversary in 40 years time.’

The couple then shared a kiss before firefighters began to lift the beam and though it at first appeared Martin had been rescued, he then tragically died.

The episode came to a heart wrenching end with Stacey’s screams being heard by the Walford residents waiting outside the Queen Vic for news about those stuck inside.

As Stacey hugged Martin’s lifeless body, his ex-wife Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) – who has been involved in a love triangle with the duo – fell to her knees as she heard the screams.