James Bye open to another soap role
Former EastEnders actor James Bye won't rule out joining a rival soap in the future.
James Bye "would be a fool to say no" to joining another soap.
The 41-year-old actor bowed out of EastEnders earlier this year when his alter ego Martin Fowler died in the Queen Vic explosion and he insisted it wouldn't be disloyal if he goes on to sign up for a rival show such as Coronation Street or EastEnders.
He told The Sun Online: “It’s not about loyalty.
“Certainly, the people that I’ve come across during my time in soaps are the hardest working bunch of people.
“In front of the camera, behind the camera, and I loved my time on the show.
“I’ve never worked in any other soap, so I know a lot of people who have, and they kind of echo the same thing and say this.
“So I would never say never, and I mean that across anything, because you just never know.
“And if the other soaps are anything like EastEnders was, then I’d be a fool to say no.”
After it was revealed last month that Pam St. Clement will reprise her role as the late Pat Evans in EastEnders for a special episode about Nigel Bates' (Paul Bradley) dementia struggle, James is also open to making a ghostly return to Walford as Martin one day.
He said: “I think you know what, just for the fans [I would]. I know how important that character was to the fans.
“I think if ever I was given the opportunity and it made sense for the plot, or if it was just a bit of fun, yeah I would.
“Obviously I would always want to honour that character and the fan base it has.
“It’s really weird – the new thing I’m doing is 2:22 A Ghost Story, so maybe that’s how I’m going to spend the rest of my career!”
Martin's death during the soap's 40th anniversary storyline stunned fans, and James was pleased with the reaction.
He said: “I just think everything happens for a reason.
“And I loved the 10 years that I had playing him, and the people I got to work with in front and behind the camera. It is a family show.
“These things happen for a reason, and I was happy with the way it was perceived by the audience and the fans.
“I appreciate there was a lot of upset and stuff, but if anything, that just sort of justified the reason for doing it.
“The fact he has such an incredible fan base, and I just appreciated every, every bit of support I got.”
