EastEnders is set to welcome back Mark Fowler Jr in a huge return, as the BBC soap has confirmed the identity of the mystery man in the recent flashforward
EastEnders fans, brace yourselves for a familiar face making a comeback.
The BBC soap has finally revealed the identity of the mystery man from the recent flashforward – it’s Mark Fowler Jr, who is set to return to Albert Square after a decade.
He’ll be joining his sister Vicki Fowler and the Mitchells, though how he becomes entangled with the Brannings remains to be seen.
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The last time we saw Mark was back in 2016 when he discovered that Grant Mitchell was his biological father. Emmerdale actor Ned Porteous portrayed the character then, but he’s currently playing Joe Tate on the ITV soap.
This time around, the role of Mark will be taken over by actor Stephen Aaron-Sipple.
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Stephen made his first appearance in the flashforward earlier this month, and now his character has been officially identified.
Speaking about his return to Walford, Stephen said: “Having grown up in East London, EastEnders has been in my life since childhood and I’m excited to be joining not one, but two iconic Albert Square families! I’m looking forward to viewers seeing why Mark is back, and what Walford has in store for him.”, reports the Mirror.
Executive Producer Ben Wadey also chimed in, hinting at what lies ahead. He stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Stephen Aaron-Sipple to EastEnders and bring Mark back to Albert Square.
Viewers had a glimpse of Mark in the New Years Day flashforward episode, with the circumstances around his upcoming involvement with the Brannings set to unfold throughout the year.”
It’s hinted that he will join the Mitchells as well as Vicki, which could suggest Mark has been in touch with them, or at least it is known that he is Grant’s son. It’s not believed that Grant and Mark have been communicating, as Grant did not mention his son when he made a brief appearance on the show last year.
The reasons for Mark’s return are being kept hush-hush for now, including how he will end up being close to the Brannings. Fans also don’t know too much about what he’s been up to during his time away from Walford.
After the flashforward aired, fans had speculated that the mystery man, now identified as Mark, could be a recast character, or a new resident.
Another theory suggested that his connection to the Brannings could lead him to have an affair with Lauren Branning, who is currently married to Peter Beale, while the flashforward was set in January 2027.