Long-serving EastEnders character dies in dramatic live broadcast

As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, EastEnders viewers were allowed to vote on key storylines for the first time

Martin Fowler has died in EastEnders’ live episode (BBC/PA)

Long-serving EastEnders character Martin Fowler (James Bye) has died of a cardiac arrest and viewers have voted for Denise Fox (Diane Parish) to reunite with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) in a live episode of the BBC One soap.

In the aftermath of an explosion at the Queen Vic on Wednesday, Martin remained trapped under a beam in the pub at the start of Thursday’s episode as part of the programme’s 40th anniversary week.