FROM WALFORD TO THE WEST END: EASTENDERS STAR JAMES B SECURES MAJOR NEW ROLE FOLLOWING MARTIN FOWLER’S DEVASTATING EXIT

 

In a swift transition from the heartbreak of Albert Square to the bright lights of London’s theater district, actor James B has secured his first major project following the dramatic and tragic exit of his beloved character, Martin Fowler, from EastEnders. The 41-year-old performer, known for his decade-long tenure on the BBC soap, is set to join an acclaimed supernatural thriller on the West End stage.

James B will team up with Hollyoaks legend Gary Lucy (who also met a dramatic soap opera end as Luke Morgan) for the new run of 2:22 A Ghost Story. The duo will portray the characters Sam and Ben, joining Shvornne Marx and Natalie Laura Casey, who will reprise their roles.

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A Thrilling New Chapter

 

The announcement of the casting was met with immediate enthusiasm from fans across social media, who eagerly anticipate seeing the soap stars transition to the stage. Comments flooded the show’s official social media pages, with fans declaring the pairing “brilliant” and expressing excitement for the supernatural thriller’s run, which first premiered in 2021 and earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.

This new role comes after James B’s emotional departure from EastEnders in the Milestone 40th anniversary episode earlier this year. His character, Martin Fowler, met a devastating end after being crushed by a collapsing steel beam during an explosion at the Queen Vic. The emotional scene featured a poignant final exchange between Martin and Stacey, before he succumbed to his injuries.

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A Privileged Goodbye

 

Reflecting on his exit, James B shared that saying goodbye was not easy, but the monumental anniversary felt like the right moment to bow out on such a major storyline.

“It’s been a privilege to bow out on a storyline of this scale,” he shared, extending a heartfelt thank you to the fans who supported his character for a decade. “This fruit and veg stallholder will always mean so much to me. Now it’s time to embrace the next chapter and I’m genuinely excited for what’s ahead. Rest in peace Martin Fowler.”

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THE RETURN OF LEGENDS: PAT AND BARRY EVANS

 

While James B begins his next chapter, EastEnders is looking to its past for an emotional upcoming storyline. The soap has announced the return of two beloved Walford legends for a special, heartfelt episode focusing on Nigel’s ongoing battle with dementia.

Following the earlier revelation that Pam St Clement will return as Pat Evans, the show confirmed that Shaun Williamson will officially reprise his role as Barry Evans this December. Both deceased characters will appear to Nigel as visions in the Queen Vic as his symptoms intensify.

Though Barry and his stepmother, Pat, had a famously turbulent relationship when they were alive, their presence in Nigel’s hallucination is designed to show them united, offering comfort and guidance during one of the darkest points of his journey. Williamson, who last appeared on the soap in 2004, expressed his surprise and thrill at returning to the set after so many years, calling the experience of working on such a powerful storyline “wonderful.” The emotional one-off episode has already been filmed in close collaboration with Dementia UK to ensure accuracy and sensitivity.