BBC EastEnders bosses' clever way of keeping Martin Fowler's death a secret

A cast member on EastEnders has revealed how bosses on the show tried to keep Martin Fowler's death under wraps. The BBC show killed off the character - played by James Bye since 2014 - on last night's live episode, as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations this week. Martin became the latest fatality following an explosion at the Queen Vic.

The episode showed the aftermath of Martin - who first appeared on EastEnders in 1985, the year that it began - being crushed by a metal beam inside the pub. He died after it was lifted off his legs by paramedics, with his "true love" Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) by his side at the end.

It's since been revealed that Martin and Stacey - who were in several scenes during the live episode, culminating in his death - had "code names" in the script in an apparent effort to keep their identities under wraps. The news was shared by cast member Kellie Bright, 48, who plays Linda Carter.

She shared behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram this afternoon, including two photos of colleagues James, 40, and Lacey, 36, together. They were seen in matching green t-shirts that had been personalised for the pair. The front featured "#startin" - a combination of Stacey and Martin.

Alongside a pink love heart, matching text on the back of the t-shirts read: "TODD & WINNIE 4 EVA." Kellie suggested in the caption that the two characters had been named Todd and Winnie in the script for the recent live episode. Reflecting on the episode, Kellie - who included other photos in the post - wrote in part of her caption: "I have to give some special love and respect to @laceyturner and @jimmybye who gave the most beautiful and heartbreaking performances last night. It's SO hard to say goodbye to your co star after ten years (I should know) but to do that LIVE!!?!?!! It was SO special and I am in awe of them both." Beside a laughing emoji, she added: "The matching t shirts were bought by James and they are the code names that they were given in the script! Why?? I have no idea.".

Kellie shared a photo of her script in the post, as well as in a subsequent post, which confirmed that not every character was given a code name. Her script confirms that Linda and Denise Fox (Diane Parish) were referred to by their first names in Kellie's version of their scene together.

During the live episode, Martin had been seen struggling to breathe as the emergency services worked to free him from the beam. He and Stacey discussed their future together as a couple whilst they waited. She was however told that there was a risk of cardiac arrest, as a result of crush syndrome, once the beam was pulled off him. Later, when the restraint was finally lifted off his legs at the end of the episode, Martin passed away, leaving some fans heartbroken. There had previously been some concern that Martin would die during the anniversary celebrations, with it suggested that there were some signs pointing toward the prospect.