{"id":628053,"date":"2026-06-08T20:03:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:03:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/628053\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T20:03:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:03:15","slug":"eastenders-fans-unearth-stars-previous-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/628053\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders fans unearth star&#8217;s previous role"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">EastEnders fans have unearthed Stephen Aaron-Sipple&#8217;s previous role on the soap, before he became the new Mark Fowler Jr. The actor took over from Ned Porteous this year as the son of Michelle Fowler and Grant Mitchell.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Aaron-Sipple made his first appearance as Mark in the New Year&#8217;s Day flashforward episode. But he had actually been Walford back in 2020 &#8211; albeit on a flying visit. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">The episode, which aired on 20 October, opened with a mysterious man (Aaron-Sipple) driving a fancy convertible around the Square. As he pulled up outside Sonia Fowler&#8217;s house, she immediately chastised him for using the street as free parking.  <\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"mark fowler, grant mitchell, eastenders\" title=\"Mark Fowler, Grant Mitchell, EastEnders\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4284\" height=\"2856\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6f08e5e6-67f3-400b-98c9-30ab4a0bd80e.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best streaming services\" data-node-id=\"18.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Best streaming services<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">After confirming her identity, he jumped out of the car, telling her the keys were in the dashboard and handing her a letter. It was revealed that the vehicle was a gift for Sonia from a Covid-19 patient she had looked after &#8211; though the mystery driver was already gone by then. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">The scene recently resurfaced after a clip was posted on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@eastendersgossip\/video\/7647606962166713622?q=eastendersgossip%20mark%20fowler%20jr%202020&amp;t=1780919922536\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@eastendersgossip\/video\/7647606962166713622?q=eastendersgossip%20mark%20fowler%20jr%202020&amp;t=1780919922536\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"TikTok\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"004b926b-e946-4ead-85e1-ca8ff29dbd84\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-node-id=\"26.1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@eastendersgossip\/video\/7647606962166713622?q=eastendersgossip%20mark%20fowler%20jr%202020&amp;t=1780919922536\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@eastendersgossip\/video\/7647606962166713622?q=eastendersgossip%20mark%20fowler%20jr%202020&amp;t=1780919922536\" data-affiliate=\"false\" data-affiliate-network=\"\" data-fp-affiliate-inline-link=\"false\" data-fp-affiliate-button-link=\"false\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"c6be8ba6-7d53-4e0a-92fd-903f90fe99f4\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-1gyyefe e1aq0z090\" data->TikTok<\/a> by EastEndersGossip. Fans were shocked to see the actor&#8217;s earlier stint on the soap, with some questioning why they didn&#8217;t realise it sooner. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve seen all the EastEnders episodes, so how come I&#8217;ve never seen this scene before?&#8221; wrote one, while another said: &#8220;I didn&#8217;t even know he had been on it before.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"35\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">&#8220;One thing about EastEnders, they&#8217;re going to recycle an actor,&#8221; laughed a third, with a fourth adding: &#8220;How can they even do this?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"lauren branning, mark fowler jr, eastenders\" title=\"Lauren Branning, Mark Fowler Jr, EastEnders\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4294\" height=\"2850\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1780948995_767_efb4d11c-c89e-49dc-9d21-ef8dc0f536e8.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"40\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Related:  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a71519192\/eastenders-diane-parish-denise-jack-ravi-choice\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a71519192\/eastenders-diane-parish-denise-jack-ravi-choice\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"EastEnders star Diane Parish responds to Denise&#039;s choice in huge storyline\" data-node-id=\"40.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">EastEnders star Diane Parish responds to Denise&#8217;s choice in huge storyline<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"44\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Aaron-Sipple made his Walford return six years later, in the special New Year&#8217;s Day episode which took place in 2027. His appearance baffled viewers at the time as he seemed to have a connection to the Brannings, though he hadn&#8217;t been introduced in the present day. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"48\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Later, Mark arrived on the Square needing help from his uncle Phil Mitchell, while claiming to be there to support his sister Vicki Fowler. He has since become embroiled in drug dealing, selling stolen cars and family drama, with an affair also seemingly on the horizon. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"52\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"56\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage\" data-node-id=\"56.0\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"61\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Streaming Guide\" data-node-id=\"61.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"65\" class=\"css-1ncddsh emevuu60\">The new edition of Living Legends, a collector&#8217;s edition exploring the royal family, is here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/royals\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/royals\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy The Royals in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"65.3\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy The Royals in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EastEnders fans have unearthed Stephen Aaron-Sipple&#8217;s previous role on the soap, before he became the new Mark Fowler&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":628054,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[147950,379,212815,381,96,2788,190731,1156,212814,148025,391,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-628053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-collection-latest-news","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-a3f99891-304d-47a2-9522-84b1034cd4c0","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-eastenders-fans-unearth-stars-role-before-mark-fowler","tag-subsection-eastenders","tag-tv","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628053","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=628053"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/628053\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/628054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=628053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=628053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=628053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}