James Bye discusses juggling EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 14 September 2022

James Bye confirms that he will not be written out of EastEnders while he takes part in Strictly Come Dancing.

James Bye has revealed that Martin Fowler will not be written out of EastEnders while he takes part in Strictly Come Dancing.

The actor is the latest in a long line of stars from the BBC soap to compete on the dance series and follows directly on from Rose Ayling-Ellis (Frankie Lewis), who is the reigning champion.

Usually soap stars who take part in Strictly take a break from their show in order to meet the demands of learning a weekly dance routine, but Bye has confirmed that Martin will remain on screen, albeit with a reduced presence.

"I'm still shooting but they've been kind and quietened my schedule down," he told New magazine.

"We shoot over the road, so it's not too bad travelling backwards and forwards.

"And my [dance] partner has said she's there at my beck and call, so when I finish filming she's there and we go into whichever studio's closest and practise."

The new series of Strictly begins Friday, September 23 on BBC One.

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