EastEnders’ Martin Fowler actor’s love story with wife from Sainsbury’s meeting to heartbreak
Martin Fowler, played by James Bye, was k.i.l.l.e.d off in the live episode of EastEnders just after heart-wrenching proposal to his ex-wife. In real life, James is happily married
Market trader Martin Fowler was k.i.l.l.ed off in Thursday night’s EastEnders when the Queen Vic pub was burnt to the ground.
Brave Martin d.i.e.d while rescuing ex-wife Stacey Slater and had viewers in tears as he proclaimed his love for her – and even proposed again while trapped under a beam. Martin appeared to be safe after the beam was lifted off him but moments later, tragically went into cardiac arrest, and paramedics were unable to save him.
In real life James Bye, the actor who plays him, is happily married to wife Victoria.
James Bye as Martin Fowler ( Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
The couple share four sons Edward, 10, Louis, eight, Hugo, five, and Rufus, one, and live in Buckinghamshire. James, who turns 41 on Monday, and Victoria tied the knot in April 2012.
The wedding took place two years before James won the role of Martin in Eastenders. It was a dream come true for James who previously had only TV parts in The Bill and The Great Train Robbery but the one thing he was always been able to count on is Victoria’s support.
Victoria, 43, has also had acting roles – appearing in an episode of Spooks. She has now turned influencer, running the successful lifewiththebyes account with 110k followers.
James Bye (L) and Victoria Bye attend OK! Magazine’s 25th Anniversary Party ( Image: Getty Images)
The couple’s love story began when they first met in 2007. James was working as a promo worker in a Sainsbury’s car park and “handed Victoria a fruit jelly”. They then got talking and he asked her out on a date to a local pub.
The actor has described his wife as the “most loving, caring and selfless person” In a sweet birthday message for her 40th he said: ” You are just incredible. The boys have no idea how lucky they are to have you! Victoria I love you so much!”
Victoria was interviewed by Brood magazine and revealed life before EastEnders was difficult and that the role was a “complete game changer.” “James was a struggling actor, we lived in London, but we used to spend a lot time heading to Edinburgh doing the festivals, as he did a lot of theatre,” she explained.
The couple with their older kids Edward, eight, Louis, six, and Hugo, three ( Image: Instagram)
Their eldest son Edward was six months old when James joined EastEnders, meaning the family had to relocate to London from Cheshire. On family life, James discussed the hardships of being away from Victoria and the kids due to the long soap filming schedules: “Family means everything to me and I’m always excited to get home” he has said.
The couple’s four boys have been a wonderful blessing as James and Victoria revealed she had struggled with endometriosis as well as “heartbreaking miscarriages, seeing fertility doctors & 3 years of ovulation testing & disappointment.. We’d honestly given up” they said on social media.
As well as supporting his wife with her health battles, Victoria was there throughout James’s 2022 Strictly journey during the twentieth series dancing with Amy Dowden. In January 2023, James and Victoria marked their 10th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in the picturesque Caribbean island of St Lucia.
