EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: Martin Expected To Perish In Live Episode
EastEnders' explosive 40th anniversary week of special episodes continued with some gripping scenes on Wednesday night - leaving one character set to fight for their life in Thursday's live episode.
Wednesday's enthralling show ended with lovable market trader Martin Fowler (James Bye) crushed by a metal beam in the Queen Vic, just moments after he shoved Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) away from the incoming object.
Fans now fear the worst for Martin, and it comes after villain Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman), who was 8/11 on betting sites to die in this week's specials, met his maker in the Vic after a bath fell on top of him.
EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: Will Reiss Return From The Dead?
Will Reiss Return From The Dead? | Odds | Probability |
Yes | 8/13 | 61.9% |
No | 13/8 | 38.1% |
However, some fans have been left unconvinced that Reiss is actually dead.
In Soapland, a character is rarely dead unless viewers see the body - and we only have Bianca Jackson's reaction in Wednesday night's episode to go off.
Reiss is just 8/13 to make a shock comeback in Thursday night's live episode, which will round off EastEnders' 40th anniversary celebrations.
Earlier in the week, Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth) confirmed she was the mystery Walford whacker who hit Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) over the head with a shovel on Christmas Day, leaving her for dead.
However, some viewers aren't convinced that Kathy is the real culprit after she helped to get an injured Cindy out of the Vic on Wednesday night.
EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: Did Kathy Really Leave Cindy For Dead
Did Kathy Really Leave Cindy For Dead | Odds | Probability |
No | 4/5 | 55.6% |
Yes | 5/4 | 44.4% |
Fans have questioned why Kathy would've left Cindy for dead on Christmas Day only to have grown a conscience less than two months later.
It's 4/5 that she isn't the secret shoveller, with some confident her grandson Peter Beale (Thomas Law) is the real culprit.
Martin's Ruby Anniversary Swansong
One thing we know for sure is poor Martin will begin the live episode with a huge beam on top of him - and it doesn't look good for the character.
Martin is now just 1/4 on betting apps to perish after he went back into the Vic to save Stacey, who he declared his love for moments beforehand, despite being in a relationship with her rival Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton).
Elsewhere, Cindy could still pass away. When she was in the ambulance, a paramedic told her she had been "lucky" with the severity of her injuries.
However, could this have been a deliberate attempt to throw EastEnders viewers off the scent?
Who Will Die During EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds?
Character | Odds | Probability |
Martin Fowler | 1/4 | 80% |
Sonia Fowler | Evens | 50% |
Stacey Slater | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Bianca Jackson | 6/4 | 40% |
Cindy Beale | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Lauren Branning | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Jean Slater | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Ian Beale | 4/1 | 20% |
Grant Mitchell | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Ruby Allen | 6/1 | 14.3% |
George Knight | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Elaine Peacock | 10/1 | 9.1% |
It wouldn't be a huge surprise if the character succumbed to an internal injury of some sort, and Cindy is still 13/8 to pass away this week.
Three other characters who remain in grave danger are Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). While trapped in the Vic kitchen, pregnant Sonia has gone into labour.
Lauren and Bianca were helping her when Reiss appeared from nowhere only to be felled by a bathtub collapsing onto him.
However, with the Vic crumbling by the minute and some fans convinced Reiss will pop up again during Thursday night's live episode, the trio may not make it out alive.
Sonia is Evens to perish, and she also has the added danger of giving birth without any medical help, while Bianca is 6/4 to pass on, and Lauren is 15/8.
What's more, Stacey's mother Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) is just 2/1, given that she could try to re-enter the Vic to save her daughter, and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) is 5/1 to die.
He still has his brother Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden) gun, so he will surely be heavily involved in Thursday night's live episode.
Could he shoot Reiss if he comes back from the dead?
Nothing will ever be the same ❤️🔥 Watch the four anniversary episodes starting on the 17th Feb. #EastEnders #EE40 #Trailer pic.twitter.com/v4TfgqLcXI
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) February 10, 2025
Sonia's Family SOS
Ross recently returned so Grant could check in on his brother Phil, who was bravely admitted to a mental health facility in Wednesday night's episode after some incredible acting by Steve McFadden.
Elsewhere in the episode, there was a shock comeback when Anita Dobson made a triumphant return to Albert Square.
After 37 years away from Walford, the soap icon reprised her legendary role of the late, great Angie Watts in the form of a vision to encourage her daughter Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) to call out for help when she was trapped in the Vic.
Which Actors Could Return For EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds?
Actor | Odds | Probability |
Lindsey Coulson | 4/6 | 60% |
Jake Wood | Evens | 50% |
Karen Henthorn | 6/4 | 40% |
Michelle Ryan | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Kacey Ainsworth | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Dean Gaffney | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Maisie Smith | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Michael French | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Joe Swash | 3/1 | 25% |
Pam St Clement | 4/1 | 20% |
Sue Tully | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Mimi Keene | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Danny Dyer | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Linda Henry | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Tom Watt | 15/2 | 11.8% |
Tilly Keeper | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Annette Badland | 10/1 | 9.1% |
With Sonia due to give birth at any moment, her on-screen mother Lindsey Coulson, who played Carol Jackson, is 4/6 favourite to make a surprise comeback in Thursday's live episode.
Jake Wood, who portrays Sonia's uncle, Max Branning, is Evens second favourite.
What's more, Karen Henthorn, who played Nigel Bates' (Paul Bradley) love interest Julie Haye, is just 6/4 after Nigel tragically revealed on Wednesday night's episode he has been battling dementia.
Hero Ravi Increases Denise Chance
In a soap first this week, EastEnders fans can vote for whether Denise Fox (Diane Parish) reunites with her estranged husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), or her lover Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
The actors themselves will only find out the results 20 minutes before Thursday night's episode gets underway, and viewers will see the result of the vote play out in the live show.
EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: With Whom Will Viewers Decide To Reunite Denise Fox?
Character | Odds | Probability |
Jack Branning | 10/11 | 52.4% |
Ravi Gulati | 11/10 | 47.6% |
Jack had been 4/6 favourite to be chosen by the viewers, but he is now out to 10/11, with Ravi into 11/10 after Wednesday night's episode.
During the hour-long special, Ravi was Denise's hero after he saved her sister Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) from the crumbling Queen Vic.
What's more, a live soap episode is a tricky thing for the actors and production team to pull off without any hiccups.
EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: Will An Actor Fluff Their Lines In The Live Episode?
Will They/Won't They? | Odds | Probability |
Yes | 8/11 | 57.9% |
No | 11/8 | 42.1% |
Jo Joyner found this out 10 years ago during EastEnders' 30th anniversary, when her character Tanya Branning accidentally asked: "How's Adam?"
She was referring to Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt, but she was supposed to say: "How's Ian?"
It's just 8/11 for one of the stars to fluff their lines on Thursday night's live special.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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