EastEnders’ Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) is completely broken as she says a heartbreaking goodbye to ex-husband Martin Fowler (James Bye) this week.
The beloved fruit and veg trader was killed in the aftermath of the Queen Vic explosion last month when a steal beam fell from the ceiling and trapped him.
As he and his other ex-wife Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) confessed their love for one another, he later died with her by his side when the beam was lifted and toxins flooded his system.
Sonia has also been through her own trauma of late, with her fiancé Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) let her take the fall for killing his comatose wife Debbie, before taking her sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) hostage when she uncovered the truth.
Sonia then gave birth to their child in the ruins of The Vic, just moments after Reiss was killed by a falling bathtub in the aftermath of the explosion.
As Martin’s funeral approaches, Sonia and Bianca are cornered by a mysterious woman next week, who later turns out to be a journalist hoping to secure an interview.
While Bianca is tempted to speak to her, Sonia tries to convince her it is a bad idea. But her attention is diverted elsewhere when her and Martin’s daughter Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) arrives home for her dad’s funeral.
Bex soon asks her mum to accompany her at the undertakers to say goodbye to Martin, but an overcome Sonia can’t bring herself to go.
The following day, Sonia finds the inner strength to go, and she and Bex are joined by Martin’s aunt Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).
At Martin’s coffin, Kathy and Bex share in their grief as they offer up their personal tributes to Martin, but an Sonia in unable to speak.
But once alone, a heartbroken Sonia breaks down as she says her final goodbye…
There are set to be more emotional scenes next week when Martin’s loved ones gather for his funeral.
Pictures from on-location filming have revealed many characters in tears as they bid their farewells, including the recast Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig).
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 31 March at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
