Saying goodbye is never easy, particularly when it‘s been over a decade in the planning. For one EastEnders actor, saying goodbye to Albert Square wasn’t just saying goodbye to a long-standing character but also bidding farewell to co-stars who felt like family. And it appears the feeling of the moment was too raw for one co-star to conceal.
Lacey Turner Couldn’t Hold Back Her Tears During Rehearsal
James Bye, who played Martin Fowler for 11 years, has revealed how emotional his dramatic EastEnders exit on the show’s 40th anniversary was. In an interview with The Mirror, he revealed how his long-time co-star Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, struggled so much to get through rehearsals without shedding a tear.
He informed us that Lacey was distressed during all of the rehearsal sessions. Although he had explained to her that she did not have to cry every time, she had explained that she just could not help it and did not know how to control herself. The feeling did not stop with her, however. He conceded that by the last rehearsal, he, too, was emotional.
EastEnders: Bye Reveals Why Telling Lacey Turner Was So Difficult
Bye described the time Stacey’s character walked away to talk to the paramedic as an out-of-body experience. When she came back, he had tears running down his face. He said that when he attempted to speak again, he wasn’t sure anyone could hear what he was saying because of his choked-up voice. Even though everything was raw, the director was delighted with the performance.
Though Bye hasn’t watched his final episode yet, he’s been candid about how difficult it was to inform those close to him. He shared that he insisted on informing Lacey personally once the executive producer had finalised the decision.
He said he told the others involved in the story at about the same time he did. But he clarified to the production team that Lacey had to hear from him. That interview, he said, was one of the hardest, second only to when he told his wife. According to him, his wife wasn’t exactly thrilled either.
Looking back on their time together, Bye reflected on his close working relationship with Turner. He said the last few months had been full of joy and tears. He added that they had worked together on so many storylines that saying goodbye was deeply emotional.
James Bye’s departure was a critical moment not only for the show’s fans but also for those who had closely collaborated with him. The emotional burden of his last scenes wasn’t simply scripted. It was lived through every rehearsal, every tear, and every farewell. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily to stay updated about all soap exits.