How many times have you spotted an actor on screen and recognised the face but couldn't place them? Call The Midwife viewers did just that when a former EastEnders star popped up on the show.
The hit BBC programme, which is now in its 12th series, aired with episode two of the new series on Sunday evening. The much-loved show became one of the big ratings winners on Christmas Day, as millions tuned in to its festive special.
While show favourites like Trixie and Shelagh were at the heart of the action, the new series saw the debut of a new nun as well as a face many viewers weren't expecting to see in the 1968 set drama. Actor James Alexandrou, famous for playing Martin Fowler in EastEnders, was on the show.
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James played Martin in the 00s when his character was at the centre of some massive storylines, wrote Chronicle Live. James left the BBC soap in 2007 but not before being part of storylines which included getting fellow EastEnders character Sonia Jackson pregnant and then killing her true love Jamie by knocking him down in a car crash. More recently the character of Martin has been back in the long-running soap but this time played by another James - Strictly 2022 contestant James Bye.
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James Alexandrou's role in Call The Midwife took fans by surprise with some saying that it had taken a while for them to register from where they knew the familiar face. James played an expectant father in a difficult pregnancy storyline.
However, once fans had placed him, Twitter comments were in full flow. One viewer said: "Unrelated to the story, but I'm convinced the actor playing Lillian's husband is James Alexandrou who used to play Martin in EastEnders!?" A second tweeted: "I am sure that is the lad that played Martin in Eastenders before James Bye is in Call The Midwife, I feel devastating news is coming his way with his wife." Another commented: "Odd to see a previous Martin Fowler in it."
Catch up with Call The Midwife on BBC iPlayer.
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