EastEnders has recast the Mark Fowler Jr character and he is set to return to the Square later this month.

Angie Quinn Screen Time Reporter

18:14, 20 Jan 2026Updated 18:14, 20 Jan 2026

It’s been 30 years since Michelle Fowler exited Walford to give birth to Mark Fowler Jr, who is returning to the BBC soap.

The role of Mark has been taken over by Stephen Aaron-Sipple, previously portrayed by Emmerdale’s Ned Porteous in 2016. He made his first appearance on the BBC soap during the recent New Year’s Day flashforward episode, positioning him at the heart of the Brannings’ escalating drama.

Mark is the offspring of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Michelle Fowler, making him the half-sibling of Vicki and Courtney Mitchell. In 1995, Albert Square bid adieu to Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully), who relocated to America, keeping her pregnancy with Grant’s child under wraps. Mark was born the following year, in 1996.

EastEnders has announced the return of a former character on the BBC soap, weeks after we saw the actor now playing him in the flashforward episode

Mark Fowler Jr is returning to EastEnders (Image: BBC)

As Mark Jr prepares to return to Walford for a reunion with Vicki, let’s catch up with Susan Tully, the actress who played their on-screen mum, Michelle, reports OK!

Who exactly was Michelle Fowler in EastEnders?

Michelle Fowler is the perpetually unlucky-in-love daughter of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) and her husband Arthur (Bill Treacher). She also has two brothers, Mark (Todd Carty) and Martin (James Bye).

The character was initially brought to life by Susan Tully when EastEnders first aired in February 1985. At just 17, she made her entrance into Walford, fresh off her stint in Grange Hill as Suzanne Ross.

An individual with long, curly hair is standing in an outdoor setting, possibly a garden, with a smile on their face. In the background, there are several buildings and some greenery.

Actress Susan Tully on the set of the BBC soap in 1986.(Image: Getty Images)

Susan Tully, who portrayed Michelle for a decade, was at the heart of numerous high-profile storylines, from teenage pregnancy to scandalous affairs with married men, including the notorious Dirty Den (Leslie Grantham).

Her illicit affair with Den, the father of her best mate Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), resulted in the arrival of baby Vicki Fowler on Albert Square.

Michelle also found love with the gentle barman Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt), but her life in Walford wasn’t destined to last.

In 1995, she bid farewell to Walford, taking Vicki with her to America to start afresh, after falling pregnant with Grant’s child, whom she named Mark in honour of her late brother.

A man and a woman are seated together, with the man dressed formally in a black suit and tie. They are holding a newborn baby, who is wrapped in a light-colored blanket, in their arms. The background features a red curtain and a white wall.

Michelle and Den are Vicki Fowler’s parents in EastEnders (Image: BBC)

Why did Susan Tully exit EastEnders?

Susan chose to step away from the BBC soap and acting altogether, instead carving out a successful career behind the scenes.

She transitioned into directing and has lent her skills to TV favourites such as The Bill, London’s Burning, and even EastEnders.

Her impressive portfolio also includes Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Silent Witness, Stella, Britannia, Line of Duty, and more recently, Strike, Maryland, and Too Close. Now aged 58, Susan has directed episodes for the second series of Sky Atlantic’s Tin Star.

An image depicts three individuals standing close together, possibly at an event. The woman in the center has short, dark hair and is smiling broadly. To her left, another woman with long, light blonde hair is also smiling. In the background, a third woman with partially visible dark hair is present.

Susan Tully looks very different today(Image: @amevs5/Instagram)

These days, she sports a chic bob, a stark contrast to Michelle’s iconic shoulder-length curls.

Fans were taken aback by Susan’s transformed appearance in a recent snap, where she was seen beaming in a white tee and black pinafore dress alongside EastEnders’ Cindy Beale, played by Michelle Collins.

Despite her success behind the scenes, fans are still keen to see her return as Michelle.

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However, the director has firmly stated that she has no intention of returning to the soap. When the decision was made to bring back Michelle in 2016, then-executive director Sean O’Connor confirmed that Susan had given them her blessing to proceed without her.

The role was subsequently handed over to Jenna Russell, marking the comeback of the character Michelle Fowler after a hiatus of 21 years.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer