A familiar face returns to Walford in today’s EastEnders – but he doesn’t look the way you remember.
Mark Fowler Jnr bursts through Phil Mitchell’s (Steve McFadden) door right at the end of the latest instalment. He’s covered in blood, and Phil immediately realises his nephew has landed in quite a bit of trouble.
It’s been ten years since we last saw Mark and back then, he had a different face!
Let’s delve into everything you need to know about Mark, including who played him before, and the actor taking over the role.
Who is Phil Mitchell’s nephew Mark Fowler Jnr?
Mark is the son of Phil’s brother Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Michelle Fowler.
This makes the character Vicki Fowler’s (Alice Haig) half brother.
He was born in 1996 off-screen, while Michelle was in America.
Mark was only in Walford for a few months in 2016.
During this period, Mark managed to work out that Grant is his father. Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) urged him not to ruin his life by getting involved with Grant, so he returned to America to live with his mum again.
When Michelle visited Albert Square later in the year, it transpired that Mark was no longer talking to his mum after finding out that she was in a relationship with her 17-year-old student.
Who plays Mark Fowler Jnr?
In 2016, Mark was played by Ned Porteous, who we of course know as Joe Tate in Emmerdale.
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With Ned busy in Yorkshire, a new actor has taken over the role of Mark.
Stephen Aaron-Sipple has joined the cast of the BBC One soap to play the character.
Little is known about why Mark has returned and what he has been up to in the time he has been away, but – in typical EastEnders fashion – it soon becomes clear not all is as it seems!
Confirmation of his comeback also solves the first of the many questions viewers were left with after the Max Branning (Jake Wood) flashforward episode which aired on New Year’s Day.
The offering in question was set in 2027 and saw an unnamed man – played by star Stephen – lurking in the background of various scenes and waving to Max from across the street, which left viewers convinced that he was to become a key character in the year ahead.
Discussing his casting, Stephen said: ‘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.’
