EastEnders confirms recast character return for Fowlers and Mitchells in major flash-forward reveal

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Actor Stephen Aaron-Sipple has been confirmed to be cast as Mark Fowler Jr in EastEnders.

EastEnders is bringing back the son of Michelle Fowler and Grant Mitchell later this month. The actor playing him, Aaron-Sipple, joined the show in October 2025 and viewers first saw him as Mark in a New Year’s Day episode that was set in the future – 2027.

The show included a quick glimpse into the future, revealing a brief interaction between a mysterious character played by Aaron-Sipple and the Beale and Branning families.

The character is set to return to Walford in 2026, where he’ll meet up with his half-sister, Vicki Fowler, played by Alice Haig.

Because of his family history, Mark is related to the Beale and Mitchell families who live on Albert Square, including his uncle Phil Mitchell and aunt Sam Mitchell.

Ned Porteous originally played the character Mark Fowler Jr. for a short time in 2016. He is now well-known for his ongoing role as Joe Tate in the ITV soap opera, Emmerdale.

Stephen Aaron-Sipple, the newest addition to the cast, shared his excitement about joining EastEnders. As a lifelong resident of East London, he’s been watching the show since he was a child, and he’s thrilled to be working with not one, but two of the show’s most famous families!

“I’m looking forward to viewers seeing why Mark is back, and what Walford has in store for him.”

I’m so excited to hear that Stephen Aaron-Sipple is joining EastEnders! It’s going to be amazing to see Mark back in Albert Square – the producers are clearly thrilled about it too, and honestly, so am I!

Okay, so we got a quick peek at Mark in that New Year’s Day flashforward, and let me tell you, it definitely teased some major drama to come. Throughout the year, we’re going to see how he gets tangled up with the Brannings, and honestly, it looks like a storyline I’ll be watching closely. It’s setting up to be a really interesting arc for his character.

So what brings Mark Fowler Jr back to Walford?

What do you need to know about Mark Fowler Jr in EastEnders?

Mark Fowler was born from a surprising encounter between Michelle Fowler and Grant Mitchell, two characters known for their intense rivalry. In 1995, they had a one-night stand, and Michelle left Walford for the United States while secretly pregnant with his child. This storyline was used to explain Michelle’s departure from the show.

Mark was born in 1996, though his birth wasn’t shown on screen. He was named after Michelle’s brother, Mark Fowler, and she only confided in him about Mark’s father. While Mark grew up away from Walford, he was raised by Michelle’s later husband, Tim, who he believed was his dad.

Mark is related to several people from the show through his mother’s side of the family. He’s the nephew of both his deceased father, who shared the same name, and Martin Fowler. He’s also the grandson of Pauline and Arthur Fowler, and the half-brother of Vicki Fowler.

Mark didn’t appear in Walford until 2016. His uncle, Phil Mitchell, contacted him after the death of Peggy Mitchell, who was secretly his paternal grandmother. Phil discovered a letter revealing Mark’s true parentage while searching Sharon’s handbag. Although Sharon and her brother, Martin Fowler, initially asked Phil to keep the truth from Mark, he ultimately decided to tell him. Despite learning this surprising news, Mark chose to remain in Walford.

I was totally hooked by this storyline! Mark ended up really connecting with Courtney Mitchell, played by Alice Oakes, and it was sweet… but incredibly complicated! Neither of them had any idea they were actually half-siblings. It was so tense watching Sharon, Martin, and their cousin Ian Beale – Adam Woodyatt – desperately trying to stop anything romantic from happening without letting the truth slip. They went to such lengths to avoid a really awkward situation!

Grant eventually came back to Walford and started arguing with Mark, largely because he was friends with Courtney and involved with Michelle.

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After Mark helped Grant rescue Ben Mitchell (who was known as Harry Reid at the time) from a kidnapping, Phil revealed to Grant that Mark was actually his son.

Grant managed to stop Mark and Courtney from becoming a couple. Then, his ex-girlfriend Jane Beale (played by Laurie Brett), who is married to Ian, convinced him to finally tell Mark who he really is.

While chatting in the Queen Vic pub, Mark shared with Grant that he deeply loved his family back in the US and considered Tim to be the best father anyone could ask for. This made Grant fall silent.

Before heading back to the US, Mark confided in Sharon that he’d figured out Grant was his real father. Sharon advised him to reconnect with Michelle and keep Grant out of his life, and he decided to do just that, leaving Walford. Shortly after, Grant also left, traveling to Portugal.

The next year, Michelle (played by Jenna Russell) returned and confided in Sharon that she and Mark had separated because she was in a relationship with one of her 17-year-old students. Later, in 2018, Michelle left Walford to try and make amends with both Mark and Vicki.

The last anyone heard from Mark was in February 2025, when Sharon informed Grant, who had just returned, that Mark knew Grant was his father. Although Sharon encouraged Michelle to convince Mark to talk to Grant, Grant chose to give Mark time and wait until he was ready to connect.

Will we ever see Grant and son reunited?

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Authors

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis leads news and trending content at TopMob, ensuring we deliver what our audience wants. He’s a huge TV and movie buff, especially a fan of Nicole Kidman, but also loves science fiction, independent films, and current HBO shows. With a background in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community engagement, SEO, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2026-01-18 00:05