He is finest identified for enjoying EastEnders’ market stall holder Martin Fowler, who was dramatically killed off within the TV cleaning soap’s reside fortieth anniversary episode in February.
Now the Basingstoke-born actor James Bye has a brand new function as one in every of literature’s largest heartthrobs.
He is donned a tailcoat and breeches to play Mr Darcy within the crime thriller Demise Involves Pemberley, on the Mill at Sonning theatre in Berkshire.
Based mostly on the novel by P.D. James, the play is a sequel to Jane Austen’s Satisfaction and Prejudice and runs till twenty eighth June earlier than occurring tour.
“It has been a pleasure for me to spend so lengthy enjoying Martin, this iconic character, after which to leap out of that and play one other iconic character,” mentioned James.
“It has been loads of laborious work, however the play is wonderful and I really feel very honoured to be concerned.”
James attended the Hurst Faculty in Baughurst and Queen Mary’s Faculty in Basingstoke earlier than forging a profession in performing.
He took over the function of Martin Fowler in EastEnders in 2014 and was concerned in lots of dramatic storylines.
James bowed out of EastEnders when his character died after being crushed by a girder within the Queen Vic pub, which had collapsed in an explosion.
“To go away the present on a reside episode – to be trustworthy I by no means thought they might belief me with one thing fairly that massive,” mentioned James.
“It isn’t a lot totally different from being on stage – besides the viewers was within the tens of millions somewhat than the a whole bunch!”
It meant so much for James to share his last scenes with Lacey Turner, who performed Martin’s real love Stacey.
“It was an ideal finish to my journey on the present and I used to be very privileged to be a part of it.”
In Demise Involves Pemberley, Mr Darcy and his spouse Lizzy turn out to be a Regency crime busting duo as they attempt to remedy a homicide the evening earlier than a grand ball.
“We see them dragged by this horrific second and the way as a pair they work collectively – or maybe not in sure circumstances – to attempt to maintain their household collectively,” mentioned James.
Following its run on the Mill at Sonning, Demise Comes To Pemberley goes on tour to Windsor, Cardiff, Bathtub, Guildford, Bromley, Wycombe, Brighton and Richmond.