EastEnders has gone live to mark the soap's 40th anniversary - and the episode concluded with a deadly twist.
The iconic character of Martin Fowler, played by James Bye, tragically died in the rubble of the Queen Vic, having been trapped underneath a metal beam.
Prior to his death Martin had reunited with his ex Stacey (Lacey Turner) and made plans to remarry, but when the beam was lifted off him, Martin became affected by crushed syndrome, leading to a cardiac arrest.
"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," said Bye, who took over the role from James Alexandrou in 2014. "It's an honour to leave on a story of this magnitude.
"A huge thank you to all the fans of the show – EastEnders wouldn't be what it is without you – and to the BBC and EastEnders team for trusting me with this role for so many years. This fruit and veg man will always hold a special place in my heart.
"It's time to look forward, and I'm incredibly excited for what the future holds. RIP Martin Fowler."
Executive producer Chris Clenshaw said: "It's incredibly sad to say goodbye to James, who has been a much loved loyal company member for 10 years. James' performance in tonight's live episode was nothing short of outstanding and one that I know will touch so many of you watching at home due to his loveable portrayal of Martin Fowler, which has made him a firm favourite amongst the viewers.
"When discussing James' exit, we knew that we needed to give Martin Fowler the big explosive storyline that his character deserved. To leave the show in such an emotional storyline, during a live episode, is something incredibly courageous to do as an actor, and one that I'm sure will cement itself in EastEnders' history.
"I would like to thank James for everything he's given to EastEnders, and although we will all miss him here at Elstree, he will always remain a member of the EastEnders family and we wish him the best for the future."
The character of Martin was the first baby born on the soap almost 40 years ago, first appearing on July 30, 1985, and was the youngest child of soap legends Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) and Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher).
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