EastEnders fans were reminded of one of the soap’s most controversial exits on Wednesday, as Martin Fowler (James Bye) spoke movingly of the death of Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami).
The market stall holder was seen offering friend Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) some advice, as she continued to struggle with how best to tell young son Albie about Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walters) murder.
Empathising with her situation, Martin recalled how he had to tell adopted son Arthur of birth father Kush’s death, after he was pushed under a Tube train by serial killer Gray Atkins (Toby Alexander Smith) back in 2021.
He told Sharon: ‘I didn’t think he understood at the time because he didn’t say anything and he carried on colouring in his little picture. Then one day, I took him to Victoria Park to feed the ducks, and he asked me if Daddy Kush could feed the ducks in heaven.
‘So it turns out he knew exactly what it meant,’ he continued. ‘See these little boys Sharon, they know more than they let on. So if you want my advice, I reckon the best thing is to be honest, before he hears it from someone else.’
Martin then stayed with Sharon as emotionally told Albie, that Keanu – who it actually turned out is not his biological father – is now an ‘angel in heaven’.
The demise of fan favourite Kush sparked a backlash at the time of airing, with more than 100 people complaining to the BBC about the violence depicted in his exit scenes.
The broadcaster defended the storyline, however, insisting ‘that regular viewers know and expect dramatic moments such as Kush’s story’.
There were more murderous scenes on EastEnders on Christmas Day, when Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) stabbed Keanu in The Queen Vic in order to stop him strangling best friend Sharon, who had revealed to him that ex-husband Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) is actually Albie’s real father.
Along with Denise Fox, Stacey Slater, Suki Panesar and Kathy Beale (Diane Parish, Lacey Turner, Balvinder Sopal and Gillian Taylforth), Linda and Sharon covered up Keanu’s murder, later framing Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) for the crime.
Keanu’s funeral is set to take place in the coming days, which will also see his mother Karen (Lorraine Stanley) paying another return visit to Walford.
