Martin Fowler (EastEnders)
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- This article is about the soap opera character. For the information technology author/speaker, see Martin Fowler.
EastEnders character | |
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Martin Fowler | |
Portrayed by | James Alexandrou |
Duration | 1985–2007 |
First appearance | 30 July 1985 |
Last appearance | 2 February 2007 |
Date of birth | 30 July 1985 |
Marital status | Engaged |
Home | Manchester |
Occupation | Market trader (fruit & veg) |
Family | Rebecca, Pauline, Arthur, Mark, Michelle |
Martin Albert Fowler was a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was played by James Alexandrou from 1996 to 2007.
The role was previously played by Jon Peyton Price from early life as a baby in 1985 to 1996, just before Martin's teenage years began.
Contents |
[edit] History
As a teenager, Martin led a somewhat deviant life, believed to be triggered by the premature death of his father. Martin was only eleven years old when his father died.
He befriended a small gang of young criminals from his local school. A series of petty thefts, burglaries and vandalisms culminated in his being arrested and enraging various residents of Walford including Phil Mitchell.
Martin also took drugs at the hands of Nick Cotton, which led to Martin's brother Mark taking revenge and leaving Nick temporarily paralyzed. In his later teens, Martin and his best friend Asif also grew cannabis in the shed of his deceased father, Arthur. This led to family friend Derek Harkinson taking the blame as Martin could not risk being in trouble with the law, as he had previous convictions.
Martin received a six-month prison sentence in February 2003 after driving the car that hit Jamie Mitchell, later leading to his death. However, he only served two months, being let out early for good behaviour. This again, led him to trouble with a heartbroken Phil Mitchell.
Jamie was the fiancé of Sonia Jackson. Sonia was also the mother of Martin's baby that she gave birth to at the age of around 15. The baby was decidedly put up for adoption, and Martin continued his life of trouble. It wasn't until Martin was released from prison that he tried to reform himself, after the forgiveness of bereaved Sonia.
[edit] Relationship with Sonia
Surprisingly, he and Sonia ended up falling in love and then marrying in 2004. It has been said that Martin felt sympathy and guilt towards Sonia for killing Jamie. Martin was later stalked by Sarah Cairns. On the night Johnny Allen's Scarlet opened, Sonia and Martin got drunk and Martin mooned his mother and Dot Branning.
In late 2005 and early 2006, Martin and Sonia's marriage broke down, due to her affair with fellow student Naomi Julien. He briefly was in a relationship with Carly Wicks, and flirted with his ex-schoolmate Susie Gilbride. On October 17, 2006, Martin and Sonia received their divorce papers.
In November 2006, they secretly got back together. Dot, Jim and Joe found out but they decided not to tell Pauline. Pauline eventually found out about their reunion when she also overheard those closest to her (Dot, Joe, Martin and Sonia) venting their frustrations in the Fowler household. Martin confessed that he was losing his love for her because of her stubbornness. After they left, Pauline prepared to leave but the house caught on fire after her cigarette fell out of the ashtray. Martin realised she was in the house and managed to save her. Martin was confused as to why Pauline did not call out to him during the fire. He was devastated when she told him that she was dying from a brain tumour. In fact, she was faking it to make sure that Martin ended his relationship with Sonia, which he eventually did. Martin decided to devote himself to caring for his mother.
Martin was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that his mother would die, and couldn't stand to hear Peggy slandering her. In order to silence her, he stunned everyone in The Queen Victoria by announcing that his mother was seriously sick with a brain tumour, and everyone, including Peggy, was deeply saddened by the news. Joe later inquired into her treatment for her illness and found out that she was lying. Pauline admitted everything to Martin, who along with Joe and Rebecca left the house to stay with Sonia, Dot and Jim.
When the residents of Walford began to raise money for Pauline (on Peggy's request), Martin was shocked and felt that everybody had a right to know the truth. He revealed everything to Peggy who in turn revealed the truth to a crowded Queen Vic. The whole Square turned against Pauline, so she stunned Martin by deciding to sell the stall back to the council.
[edit] Pauline's death
When he found out that his mother was leaving for America on Christmas Day, he tried to persuade her to stay, but her decision was final. He left the house in tears. On Christmas Day, Martin proposed to Sonia again and she accepted. Dot tried to convince him to make up with his mother but he realised it was no use. After a night of fun at the Vic, the residents went outside to enjoy the snow but to Dot's horror she found Pauline's lifeless body under the Christmas tree. Martin rushed over to his mother and desperately tried to wake her up but realised that she was dead. He was devastated when the funeral was interrupted by the police after Dot rang them, telling them she believed that Pauline had been murdered. Martin believed it was Joe, but when he attacked him, Sonia confessed.
After a much heated argument with Martin, with revelations of keeping Rebecca quiet so she wouldn't tell, and Martin trying to get Sonia to show him how she hit Pauline, Sonia tried to keep things under control, after Jim interrupted the fight. Whilst Sonia made some tea for them Martin slipped out and took Rebecca from Brannings. On his way there he made a call to the police. Sonia found Rebecca missing from her bedroom, only to then find her and Martin back in the Fowler household.
Martin told Sonia that since she took someone away from him (Pauline), he would take someone away from her (Rebecca). In a blind rage, Sonia finally slapped Martin, who took this to be the amount of force used on Pauline, then resulting in Martin lunging at Sonia and throwing her out into the street. The police arrived and Sonia was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Most of the residents felt that Sonia was innocent but Martin was convinced that she was guilty. When she was released he forbid her to see Rebecca and argued with Phil because he provided her with the lawyer which enabled her to be released. On 11 January 2006 Pauline's post-mortem results were announced. Martin in the presence of Phil were told that Pauline's death was caused by a severe blow to the head. Martin rushed to the Brannings (where the police were searching for Sonia) and demanded to see Sonia. Phil in the meantime phoned her and told her that she was being charged with murder. He hid her in the Arches and made preparations for her to leave Walford.
The next day Martin, Ian, Dot and Jim went to Pauline's funeral whilst Rebecca and Jane remained behind. Sonia used this to meet Rebecca one last time as she was going to hand herself in. Martin returned from the funeral to get Rebecca but she was not there. Jane told him that Sonia was here. Martin ran after Sonia and Rebecca who jumped in a car but he was too late and watched helplessly whilst the car sped off out of sight.
While Phil Mitchell was celebrating his birthday on 19 January 2007, the alarm on his car sounded twice during the day. The second time he went to turn the alarm off the windscreen was smashed with a hole showing up on the passenger side. Shortly after, Martin showed up accusing Phil of letting Sonia off, before running away.
Out of desperation Martin kidnapped Phil's son Ben and took him to the railway bridge. He demanded that Phil give him any information of Sonia and Rebecca's whereabouts. He eventually let Ben go but Martin was left a broken man. Sonia returned the same day with Rebecca, so Martin called the police to arrest her. It was later revealed that Joe was the one who killed Pauline. After seeking forgiveness from Sonia he asked her to consider them getting back together. Martin, Ian and Sonia were present when Pauline's will was being read. She gave Martin possession of the house but he had to forfeit his right if he chose to live with Sonia.
Sonia then decided to leave Walford for good thinking it would be better for Martin and Rebecca. Just as Sonia was leaving in the taxi, she saw Martin and Rebecca sitting on the road in front of it. After some convincing and tears the three, with Pauline's dog Betty, left Walford together on 2 February 2007.
[edit] Family
- Father: Arthur Fowler (deceased)
- Mother: Pauline Fowler (deceased)
- Brother: Mark Fowler (deceased)
- Sister: Michelle Fowler
- Daughter: Rebecca Miller
- Grandfather: Albert Beale (deceased)
- Grandmother: Lou Beale (deceased)
- Uncles: Harry Beale, Kenny Beale, Pete Beale (deceased), Ronnie Beale (deceased)
- Aunts: Maggie Flaherty, Dora Beale
- Great aunt: Betty Fowler
- Great great aunt: Dolly Beale (deceased)
- Nephew: Mark Fowler Jr.
- Niece: Vicki Fowler
- Cousins: Ian Beale, David Wicks, Conor Flaherty, Eamonn Flaherty, Tommy Flaherty, John Flaherty
- First cousins once removed: Peter Beale, Lucy Beale, Bobby Beale, Mary Flaherty, Joe Wicks, Bianca Jackson, Karen Wicks (deceased), Colette Flaherty, Eamonn Flaherty Jr., Kylie Flaherty
- First cousins twice removed: Liam Butcher, Natasha Butcher (deceased)
- Second cousin twice removed: Nellie Ellis