EASTENDERS star James Bye has admitted his wife wasn’t thrilled by the bombshell that his character was being killed off.
James, 41, revealed Victoria’s reaction to the news while discussing his shock exit from the BBC One soap.
The actor, who had played Martin Fowler for 11 years, has also told how he made one demand to EastEnders bosses when they revealed he was being written out.
James’ character was killed last week in a special live episode, which was aired to mark EastEnders’ 40th anniversary.
Martin died after a huge steel beam landed on him following an explosion at the Queen Vic pub.
Heartbroken fans were left devastated by his shock death, which came after he confessed to Stacey – played by Lacey Turner – he was in love with her.
In an interview on The One Show, James revealed he made one request to EastEnders bosses after being told what was going to happen.
He also admitted his wife Victoria didn’t take the news well either, too.
James told BBC hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp: “I was sworn to keep it completely secret.
“Obviously the people who were involved in the storyline, they were told not long after I was.
“In fact I told the exec producer, ‘You have to let me tell Lacey. Everyone else you can tell’. And that was the most difficult conversation.
“Other than telling my wife. She wasn’t over the moon with it to be fair!”
James described Lacey as his “best friend” and admitted they held hands the entire way through the live episode last Thursday.
“I can definitely say I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her. 100 per cent. Teamwork,” he said.
James added: “It has been a really emotional couple of months. Joy and tears and stuff because [me and Lacey] have worked together a lot.
“But to do it on an episode like that is such a special night and I will never forget it
“I’ll probably never get the chance to do something like that ever again so I will never forget that.”
James said his mind had been “blown” by the reaction from fans.
Meanwhile, earlier today James revealed his next job following his exit from EastEnders.
ITV bosses are poised to sign superstars Maya Jama and KSI to their biggest Saturday night shows.
Popular Love Island host Maya, 30, is to return to the guessing panel of The Masked Singer for the seventh series.
Britain’s Got Talent bosses, meanwhile, are set to offer KSI, 31, big money to rejoin as a judge for the 2026 series.
The YouTuber and musician proved a hit on Saturday’s launch episode of this year’s series, watched by 5.5million.
A TV insider said: “ITV realise they’ve got a pair of superstars shining on their shows — and they want to ensure they stay there.
“Maya went down a storm with viewers on the last series of The Masked Singer, even though she had big shoes to fill taking over from Rita Ora.
“KSI was also a breath of fresh air on BGT on Saturday.
“He’ll help attract a much younger audience.”
KSI has 55million followers across his social media platforms, including Spotify, Instagram and Tiktok.
Younger people increasingly use the sites to view TV clips.
Maya, seen on Sunday with TV host AJ Odudu at a London Fashion Week event — Lila Moss was at another — joined The Masked Singer when Rita stepped down.
She shared the panel with Mo Gilligan, Jonathan Ross and Davina McCall as well as a line up of celebrity guests.
Rossy described her as “great fun” and said recently that he was looking forward to “doing the next series with her on board”.
ITV were approached for comment.
THE threat of robots stealing musicians’ work has prompted more than 1,000 famous artists to join forces in protest with a “silent album”.
Fears are growing over the government’s plans to change UK copyright law for AI.
It would mean artificial intelligence companies could use any online material including music, art, articles and photography to train AI models.
The concern is a bot can then use algorithms to churn out its versions with no human creativity.
Stars including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, and Blur’s Damon Albarn have produced the protest album, titled Is This What We Want?
The 47 minutes of sparse background sounds are designed to show what life would be without musicians.
Organiser Ed Newton-Rex said: “The government’s proposal would hand the life’s work of the country’s musicians to AI companies, for free, letting those companies exploit musicians’ work to outcompete them.
“It is a plan that would not only be disastrous for musicians, but that is totally unnecessary: the UK can be leaders in AI without throwing our world-leading creative industries under the bus.”
Dr Jo Twist, head of industry group the BPI, said it would be legal for AI firms “to plunder the UK’s music, books, film and more, all for their own profit and without the need for authorisation or compensation”.
British music contributed £7.6 billion to the economy in 2023, but the industry warns that the changes to copyright laws would diminish this boost, risk jobs and undermine Britain’s “global soft-power advantage”.
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THE saying goes that there’s no such thing as an original idea — and Meghan Markle seems living proof of that.
Following last week’s relaunch of her American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand as the more simply named As Ever, she was accused of ripping off a Mallorcan town’s emblem of palm tree and birds for her new logo.
But whatever the ins and outs of that, the Duchess of Sussex certainly has form for copycat behaviour when it comes to sporting similar outfits to those worn by her husband Harry’s late mum, Princess Diana.
Now she has been at it again, posting a clip on Instagram of herself parading in the garden of her California home in a purple Northwestern sweatshirt just like one Di regularly wore in 1996 – the year before her death.
It comes after she has also been seen out and about in frocks, jackets and denims that seem, again and again, to be just like Diana wore.
Here, we look at how Meghan’s style is to Di for . . .
MEGHAN posted this dressed-down shot on Instagram a few days ago, wearing the exact-same sweat Di did nearly 30 years ago.
Meg did graduate from America’s Northwestern University in 2003.
But Di had been there, got the souvenior sweatshirt after a visit in 1996 then wore it out in London.
Which tops Meg.
MEG gaffed when she broke protocol at a Trooping the Colour ceremony by bearing her shoulders.
The pink dress with buttoned top she wore to the parade in London in 2018 was also alike in more ways than one to a frock Di wore in 1987 for a visit to the Berlin Opera House.
Lovely doubly.
ALL eyes were on Prince Harry’s then new love as Meg cheered at his Invictus Games in Toronto 2017, but her casual seemed hardly fit for a potential princess.
In fact, her jeans and shirt In Toronto were out of the Di style book, from her Bosnia tour to raise awareness of landmines.
Sadly for Meg, paying homage failed to work.
MEGHAN embraced colour in 2019 as she ditched her usual neutral hues for purple and red.
Visiting Birkenhead, she echoed Di’s look that she first showed off in 1989 in Hong Kong then again three years later as she sat alone in front of the Taj Mahal.
For sure, Di in India packed more a punch than did Meg.
MEGHAN got Stella McCartney to design her evening wedding dress in 2018 and there’s no doubt the pair looked back to Di for ideas.
The halterneck and fluid hem details are nods to a dress the Princess of Wales wore to a party in 1992.
Certainly, there was something borrowed on Meg’s big day.
EARLIER this month Meghan sat courtside for a wheelchair basketball game at husband Harry’s Invictus Games wearing a grey tweed jacket with black velvet lapels.
The DÔEN blazer is almost identical to a suit jacket Diana wore in 1984 during a hospital visit in London.
But, sorry Meg, you weren’t the first to honour this outfit, Kate did it first in 2018.
Awkward.
IN 2019 a pregnant Meghan had run out of maternity looks but when it came to going to the Canadian Embassy she looked to Diana’s pregnancy wardrobe.
Wearing an Erdem green dress with matching coat finished with black embroidery, Meg was the spitting image of the Princess of Wales when she was pregnant with Prince William in 1982.
From the matching colourway to the collar detailing, this look was a right royal rip off.
PAYING tribute to Diana in the early years of being a Duchess, Meg wore a blue and white floral Oscar de la Renta gown to the wedding of the Princess of Wales’ niece.
Bearing a resemblance to a frock Di wore in 1986 on a trip to Saudi Arabia, the outfit didn’t quite replicate the original as fans compared her to a pair of curtains.
This outfit was less dupe, more drapes.
FORMER Virgin Media star Greg O’Shea has opened up on his decision to step away from the Six O’Clock Show.
The Love Island winner started hosting the evening show back in November 2022 with popular TV veteran Karen Koster.
But in early November 2023 the pair announced separately they would be departing the show before its January 2024 return.
The duo were replaced by Brian Dowling and Katja Mia, who recently celebrated the show’s 10th anniversary.
Speaking to RSVP about his decision to leave the show, he said: “I needed to get past the ceiling and through that limit to experience more work out there.
“It would be great if I was later in my career and I had a family, so I needed to be in Dublin and needed that constant income. But now it is just me and my partner in my life and I want to experience new things.”
He added: “Maybe when I settle down in a few years I could put my hand up and see about hosting a show in Ireland.
“Right now, I am testing the waters to see where I want to go with my next chapter.”
Reflecting on his year spent hosting, Greg revealed he still misses aspects of the show, including his former co-host.
He said: “I got so used to being on the show with Karen Koster, who became like a big sister to me. I saw her every day, five days a week.
“I miss her, the make up team and the backroom staff. I made some really good friends like Chef Adrian and psychotherapist Padraig Walsh.”
When Greg confirmed his decision to leave the show, he did so on air with stand-in co-host, Grainne Seoige.
Speaking on air at the time, he explained: “I think it’s the perfect time for The Six O’Clock Show to mix things up and try something new.
“I think it’s the perfect time for The Six O’Clock Show to mix things up and try something new.
“I’ve learned so much over the last year from yourself Grainne, from Karen and other people I have presented beside.
“Incredible people and the team behind The Six O’Clock Show are honestly so talented and I love them all.
“They have really helped me to start from a complete beginner to where I am now – a novice.
“I’m definitely going to miss it but, you know what, it’s been a great year and everything good has to come to an end.
“I can’t wait to see where the show goes, I’m going to be a fan and Karen and I will be with you next week Monday and Tuesday and then we will be passing the baton on to the new team.”
