Mark Fowler Jr, who is back in EastEnders, is finally getting close to his secret family it seems, but who are his parents?

Mark’s dad was confirmed on the show in a major twist 10 years ago on the BBC soap, while his mum has been known from the start. On Monday, Mark reunited with his sister Vicki Fowler, days after his debut saw Phil Mitchell’s nephew greet him with the line: “Hello Uncle Phil.”

But how exactly is Mark related to those in Walford, including the Mitchells and the Fowlers. Who is Mark, and why is he back in Walford so abruptly for the first time since 2016?

Then there’s the looming flashforward scene that sees him with the Brannings. Why is he so close to them in January 2027?

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We’ll start with Mark’s real parents. Mark is the son of Michelle Fowler, with his mum lying to him about his paternity for years. It was only around his soap debut in 2016 that viewers learned Grant Mitchell was his dad.

Grant found this out too in an episode at this time, never having been told the truth. Mark also found this out before the left Walford, but the pair seemed to go their separate ways.

But it seems Mark is keen to meet that side of the family now, as last week we saw him rock up at Phil’s door, bloodied and beaten. Phil knew who he was and Mark called him his uncle, with more scenes set to air for this pair.

On Monday, as revealed on the weekend in a preview clip, Sam Mitchell makes herself known to Mark. She tells Mark she’s Grant’s sister, making her Mark’s aunt.

As for Vicki, fans already knew that she was Mark’s sister. The pair are reunited in Monday’s episode, having grown up together and being close.

Elsewhere, Mark has connections to Kathy and Ian Beale, and all the Beales, given their link to the Fowler clan. Mark’s uncle Martin Fowler sadly passed away on the show last year, but Mark’s cousins, Martin’s children, are still on the show.

Why Mark is back has been teased in Monday’s episode, but there’s no doubt more to come out about this. He’s claimed he’s back to support Vicki at her trial, where she will face her attacker Joel Marshall once more, but Mark isn’t being truthful.

As for the Brannings, fans are starting to suspect Mark will have an affair with Lauren Branning. Could this be what leads to him getting closer to the family in some way?