EastEnders viewers were left stunned and outraged after witnessing the devastating demise of Martin Fowler, with many jokingly vowing to “call Ofcom” in protest of the emotional storyline.
Social media exploded with reactions as BBC audiences expressed their disbelief over Martin’s sudden and tragic end, the result of a catastrophic accident involving a steel beam.
In an emotionally charged episode, the beloved Walford resident shared a tearful farewell with his long-time love, Stacey Slater, during a live broadcast.
The gut-wrenching moments saw Martin confess his deep love for Stacey and propose marriage, only for fate to deal a cruel blow—he suffered a fatal heart attack just moments later.
Fans were left heartbroken, with many admitting they needed tissues to get through the tearjerking episode. Some even joked about needing time off work to recover from the emotional impact of Martin’s exit, according to Birmingham Live.
One viewer humorously shared a clip of a packed escalator on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it: “The entire UK heading to Ofcom to file complaints for Martin’s death.”
Another frustrated fan declared: “Calling Ofcom for compensation—EastEnders writers have taken Martin away from us!” A third echoed the sentiment, quipping: “I’ll be taking compassionate leave for at least 10 days to mourn Martin Fowler.”
The emotional distress was felt across the fandom, with one user writing: “That was so traumatic—can I submit an Ofcom complaint?” Another added: “So they actually killed off Martin? Ofcom is going to hear from me for the pain they’ve caused!”
In Martin’s final moments, he found himself trapped beneath a heavy beam after heroically saving Stacey during the chaos of the Queen Vic explosion.
As paramedics administered morphine and firefighters desperately worked to free him, Martin and Stacey shared a heartbreaking exchange. He professed his love once more and proposed, dreaming of a future together.
However, Stacey quickly realized the severity of his condition when medics warned that removing the beam would be fatal. Though she struggled to tell him, Martin understood his fate.
In his final words, he expressed his love: “No pressure, but I’ve adored this woman since the moment I first saw her. I thought she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever laid eyes on.”
As they shared one last kiss, Stacey pleaded for him to hold on, but Martin reassured her: “It’s going to be alright.” Tragically, his life slipped away, leaving Stacey devastated, her anguished cries echoing through the streets of Walford.
