EastEnders had paid tribute to two Albert Square icons – Pauline and Arthur Fowler – ahead of the show’s 40th anniversary.
The BBC soap celebrates a whopping four decades on air next week, and it would be wrong to mark the occasion without recognising the talented original cast who launched the phenomenon back in 1985.
Amongst the 20 original Walford residents were seasoned actors Wendy Richard and Bill Treacher, famed for roles in Are You Being Served? and Dixon of Dock Green.
The pair, alongside teenage children Michelle and Mark (Susan Tully and David Scarboro), plus Pauline’s elderly mother Lou Beale (Anna Wing), cemented the Fowler family as one of the show’s most iconic.
In the very first episode, Pauline consults Dr Legg (Leonard Fenton) about her pregnancy, and a few months later she gave birth to Martin (now James Bye).
He’s now the sole remaining adult member of the family left on the show, alongside adoptive son Arthur Jnr and daughter Hope.
In tonight’s episode, Martin and his children harked back to a storyline from 1989, when Arthur Snr appeared on the fictional gameshow Cat and Mouse.
Pauline signed her husband up for the TV appearance, and a few weeks later the residents gathered in The Queen Vic to watch his winning performance.
Last week, we saw Martin tell girlfriend Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) that he wished that he still had a copy of the episode so that he could remember his late dad.
She put her thinking cap on, and managed to track down someone who had uploaded the episodes online.
To her dismay, Martin’s ex-wife Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) – who has been harbouring her feelings for him – suggested that they meet in the pub, like their nearest and dearest had done 36 years earlier, to watch it.
Ian and Kathy Beale (Adam Woodyatt and Gillian Taylforth) were heart-warmed by the sight of their much-missed family on screen, whilst Martin looked tearful at hearing his dad’s voice again.
His step-daughter Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) was in disbelief at her dad being name checked by the show’s host Dave Right (Neil McCaul), whilst Arthur Jnr finally got to see his namesake.
Ruby got word that Zack Hudson (James Farrar) was having trouble getting her infant son Roman to sleep, and as a result she had to leave early.
As the remaining locals made their excuses and left, Martin was left alone with Stacey by his side. She was clearly smitten at the chance to spend some time together.
With a sense of nostalgia in the air, will we finally see Martin and Stacey reunite in next week’s huge week?
