EastEnders Shocker: Mark Fowler Jr. Returns with a New Face and a Dangerous Past
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A familiar face has reappeared in Walford, but Mark Fowler Jr.’s return to EastEnders is far from a simple homecoming. Arriving bloodied and desperate at Phil Mitchell’s door on January 22nd, the character’s reappearance after a decade-long absence signals a dramatic turn of events for the long-running soap opera. The storyline promises to unravel a web of crime, betrayal, and family secrets, with significant implications for several key characters.
Who is Mark Fowler Jr.? A Family History
Mark Fowler Jr. is the son of Phil Mitchell’s brother, Grant Mitchell (played by Ross Kemp), and Michelle Fowler. This makes him the half-brother of Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig). Born off-screen in 1996 while Michelle was residing in America, Mark briefly appeared in Walford in 2016. During that time, he discovered the identity of his father, Grant, but was cautioned by Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) against pursuing a relationship, ultimately returning to his mother in the United States. However, his relationship with Michelle later deteriorated after she began dating a 17-year-old student.
A Change in Faces: From Ned Porteous to Stephen Aaron-Sipple
The character of Mark Fowler Jr. was originally portrayed by Ned Porteous, known for his role as Joe Tate in Emmerdale, in 2016. With Porteous pursuing other projects, a new actor has stepped into the role. Stephen Aaron-Sipple has joined the cast of the BBC One soap to take on the character, bringing a fresh dynamic to the troubled nephew of Phil Mitchell.
Drawn Back into the Underworld
On January 26th, details emerged regarding Mark’s return to Walford and the trouble that follows him. He is attempting to draw Phil Mitchell back into a life of crime, desperately trying to prove his innocence to his criminal associates. Mark is tasked with identifying a “grass” – an informant leaking information to the police – within his organization. The individual in question is revealed to be Ravi Gulati (Aaron Tiara).
After reuniting with his sister, Vicki Fowler, Phil and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) pressed Mark for answers. They quickly discovered he is now involved in drug dealing and acting as hired muscle, with his injuries stemming from suspicions of his betrayal. He requires Phil’s assistance to locate and deliver the informant to those in power at ‘Drugs’r’Us’.
Connecting to the Max Branning Flashforward
Mark’s return also provides a crucial piece of the puzzle stemming from the New Year’s Day flashforward episode featuring Max Branning (Jake Wood). The episode, set in 2027, featured an unidentified man – played by Aaron-Sipple – lurking in the background and acknowledging Max. This sighting initially sparked speculation about a new key character, now confirmed to be Mark Fowler Jr.
Discussing his casting, Aaron-Sipple shared, “Having grown up in East London, EastEnders has been in my life since childhood and I’m excited to be joining not one, but two iconic Albert Square families! I’m looking forward to viewers seeing why Mark is back, and what Walford has in store for him.”
EastEnders’ Executive Producer Ben Wadey added, “We are thrilled to welcome Stephen Aaron-Sipple to EastEnders and bring Mark back to Albert Square. Viewers had a glimpse of Mark in the New Years Day flashforward episode, with the circumstances around his upcoming involvement with the Brannings set to unfold throughout the year.”
This article was originally published on January 22.
