Martin Fowler (James Bye) is drawn towards Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) in EastEnders this Christmas after being encouraged by a close friend.

The Walford market trader was rocked to the core when his ex-wife made a shock return and confirmed that she’d given birth to his son some years ago.

It soon transpired that the youngster had been hospitalised after downing a bottle of liquid paracetamol that she had carelessly left around her home.

To make matters worse, he now needed a life-saving organ transplant.

The two haven’t been on best terms of late, after she accidentally exposed his plan to gain custody of son Roman to the child’s mother, his ex-wife Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton).

Martin’s other ex-wife Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) began to doubt whether his scheme was the right move, and warned him to stop.

Little did she realise, Ruby was listening in from behind her and discovered the extent of his plot – threatening to never put his name on Roman’s birth certificate.

After learning that his son’s donor liver wasn’t viable, Martin bravely put himself forward for the operation in the hope it could not only save him, but also repair his fractured relationship with Ruby.

In a further twist, he tried to kiss Stacey during a heart to heart!

Confused by his own behaviour, Martin spoke to Zack Hudson (James Farrar) about his feelings and was encouraged to focus on Roman and Ruby.

Stacey had her own romance woes, chatting to mum Jean (Gillian Wright), who advised that the sooner she acts, the less likely he’d be to turn to Ruby.

Torn over how he should act, Zack advised him to consider which woman he had deeper feelings for.

But who will he choose?

In upcoming scenes, after plucking up the courage to speak to him, Stacey is dismayed to learn that Ruby has moved in! The move deeply offended her, despite Martin’s insistence that it is a purely platonic arrangement.

Zack realises how harmoniously his pal’s ‘friendship’ with Ruby is going, and after spotting them flirting, eggs him on to make a move.

On Christmas Day, the Slaters sit down for their dinner and are taken aback when Ruby arrives. But what does she want?

It seems that she’s adamant to get in between Stacey and Martin’s chances of talking, and when they finally sit down together, Jean bursts in to inform them of the drama at The Queen Vic involving Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) affair.

As we approach New Year, he makes the decision to decline an invite for a big night out, and see in 2025 with Ruby at the hospital…

Could there be a kiss under the fireworks?