Former EastEnders actor James Alexandrou has made a surprise appearance in the second season of Prime Video's spy thriller series Citadel, leaving fans stunned by his transformation. The 41-year-old, best known for playing Martin Fowler on the BBC soap from 1996 to 2007, appears in episode three of the show, which stars Oscar-nominated actor Stanley Tucci.
In Citadel, Alexandrou plays a lead officer in an intense action scene, dressed in tactical gear and carrying a gun. His rugged look is a far cry from the cheeky market trader fans remember from Albert Square, prompting many viewers to do a double take when they recognised him.
Alexandrou took over the role of Martin Fowler in 1996, replacing child actor Jon Peyton Price, and became one of the soap's most recognisable younger characters. He left the show in 2007, and the role was later recast with James Bye. Earlier this year, during EastEnders' 40th anniversary live episode, Martin was killed off in emotional scenes that sparked widespread reaction online.
Reacting to his former character's death on Instagram, Alexandrou posted a picture from Martin's final scenes and joked: 'Somehow reckon I'll still be asked "When are you going back to EastEnders?"' Since leaving Walford, he has built an impressive career with appearances in British TV dramas such as Call the Midwife, Silent Witness, and Professor T.
For many soap fans, seeing Alexandrou in a big-budget Hollywood-style series like Citadel marks a full-circle moment, but they still fondly remember him as the lovable Martin Fowler.
