EastEnders has confirmed that Bex Fowler will return for the funeral of her father Martin, following his tragic death.

The iconic character passed away following the dramatic explosion at The Vic during Thursday’s (February 20) live episode, bringing an end to James Bye’s 11-year stint in the role.

As Walford comes together and mourns the loss of a valued member of the community, it was announced on Saturday that Martin’s niece Vicki would be returning to Albert Square after 21 years away.

The soap has now confirmed that Bex, Martin’s daughter, will return to East London for a short stint to honour her father’s memory, with Jasmine Armfield reprising the role she last played in 2020.

“It’s wonderful to be back at EastEnders and to see so many familiar faces,” said Armfield. “It’s amazing for me to come home, but for Bex, it’s an absolutely devastating time because she’s lost her dad.

“She’s grown up a lot, having spent the past few years travelling, so we’re going to see a much more mature and grown-up version of Bex this time around,” continued the star, who debuted on the soap in 2014.

“We’re delighted to welcome Jasmine home to EastEnders as part of Martin’s farewell,” added executive producer Chris Clenshaw. “There’s no way that Bex would miss her dad’s funeral, and Sonia needs her eldest daughter more than ever.

“It’s been five years in which Bex has gone out into the world, so she’ll come back with renewed wisdom and experience,” continued the producer, who is due to leave his role in the coming weeks.

Bex’s return will see her reunite with her mother Sonia, who had her own tumultuous journey as she gave birth to Julia in the rubble of The Vic. In addition to being distraught over Martin’s death, Bex will reportedly be “hit hard” as she attempts to adjust.

Whilst Bex’s impending return will air in the near future, the soap unveiled a brand-new clip from Monday’s episode via its social media accounts, with a hospitalised Sonia informing Bex of her father’s passing during a phone call.