EASTENDERS fans have spotted a major clue that James Bye was AXED from the soap – did you see it?
James, 41, discussed his exit on The One Show with presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.
Fans believed they’d picked up on a hint suggesting James had been axed – rather than choosing to leave.
One wrote on X: “After watching James’ interview I’m even more convinced that he didn’t want to leave EE and that it was entirely the producers’ decision.
“He quickly switched from saying “when I was told” to “when we made the decision.” If it wasn’t his choice I’m even more angry now.”
Another wrote: “it definitely comes across like the decision was made and he was told.
“i’m guessing he’s been instructed to make it seem like a joint decision because that sounds better.”
While a third penned: “Yeah that’s exactly what I took it from it..doesn’t seem like he wanted to leave more like he was told which is very upsetting if it’s the case, another iconic character killed off, it was a bad decision.”
James was asked whether he’d kept Martin’s fate a secret before the live episode went out.
He replied: “I was sworn to keep it completely secret. The people who are involved in the storyline, they were told not long after I was.
“I told the exec producer after he told – after we sort of made the decision – I was like, you have to let me tell Lacey. Everyone else, you can tell.
“That was the most difficult conversation. Other than telling my wife, she wasn’t over the moon with it to be fair.”
EastEnders fans watched as Martin stayed behind in an explosion destroyed Queen Vic to rescue his true love Stacey Slater.
As they went to leave, the fruit-and-veg flogger’s legs were crushed by a falling steel beam.
The live episode saw Martin declare his love for Stacey and he asked her to marry him again.
Paramedic Skinner (Luke Baker) privately told Stacey that Martin had crush syndrome – a life threatening predicament occurring after injury to skeletal muscle.
When paramedics lifted the beam, Martin succumbed to his injuries and passed away, in a distraught Stacey’s arms.
Upcoming scenes will see Martin’s daughter Bex (Jasmine Armfield) and niece Vicki (Alice Haig) return to Walford for his funeral.
