Former EastEnders star lands major new role

James Bye, who played Martin Fowler on EastEnders before his character’s exit in a special live episode nine months ago, is now joining the cast of the popular stage play, 2:22 A Ghost Story.

Bye will star as Sam in the upcoming 2026 UK tour of the show. Joining them is Gary Lucy, known for his roles in popular British dramas like Hollyoaks, The Bill, and Footballers’ Wives, who will play Ben. Lucy also previously appeared in EastEnders as Danny Pennant from 2012 to 2014.

2:22 A Ghost Story announced on Instagram that Bye and Lucy have joined the cast. Shvorne Marks will return as Jenny, having previously performed with Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, and Natalie Casey will play Lauren.

Danny Robins of Uncanny wrote the play, which has been performed since 2021. Many well-known actors have appeared in it over time, including Lily Allen, Stephanie Beatriz, Mandip Gill, Cheryl, Louisa Lytton, Jake Wood, James Buckley, and Tom Felton.

Jenny is convinced her new house is haunted, but her husband, Sam, doesn’t believe her. Their disagreement comes to a head when they have their first dinner guests: a longtime friend, Lauren, and her partner, Ben.

I’m so excited to see Bye taking on another stage role! It’s amazing to see how much he’s accomplished since leaving EastEnders – this is actually his second stage show already! And on top of that, he’s been captivating audiences in a new production of ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’ this year. He’s really proving himself as a versatile actor.

Honestly, when I heard about George Rainsford landing the role of Mr. Darcy, it made total sense! He told the press he was leaving EastEnders on a real high note, especially after being part of that huge live 40th anniversary episode – can you blame him for wanting to move on after that? It felt like the perfect time for a new challenge.

For ten years, I’ve been known for playing really tough, realistic characters. So, stepping into a period drama and becoming one of literature’s most famous romantic heroes is a huge change! Honestly, I’m so excited to start this next part of my career – it feels like a dream come true.

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2025-11-16 01:04