Mark Fowler
Mark Fowler | |
---|---|
EastEnders character | |
Fowler/Beale | |
Father | Arthur Fowler |
Mother | Pauline Fowler |
Brothers | Martin Fowler |
Sisters | Michelle Fowler |
Wife |
|
Adoptive daughters | Hope Fowler |
First cousins |
|
Other relatives |
Mark Fowler is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Mark, an original regular character when the series started in February 1985, became a semi-regular after his original portrayer David Scarboro was written out of the role in April 1985. Scarboro made brief returns to the role in 1986 and 1987. Scarboro died by suicide in April 1988 and subsequently Mark was recast two years later on his return, with former Grange Hill regular Todd Carty taking on the role. From this point the character was a permanent fixture in the series and Carty remained in the role until the character was written out of the series in early 2003.[1]
The character was originated as a member of the established Beale/Fowler family; he is the eldest son of Arthur (Bill Treacher) and Pauline (Wendy Richard), thus being the older brother of both Michelle (Susan Tully/Jenna Russell) and Martin (Jon Peyton-Price/James Alexandrou/James Bye) as well. Initially a delinquent teenager from his early stint on the show, he later became a changed man upon returning to Albert Square as a 22-year-old in 1990. Following his return, Mark became one of the show's central protagonists was featured in some of the most prominent storylines during his tenure on the soap. Arguably Mark's most significant and most high-profile storyline saw the character announce that he had been diagnosed with HIV, which forced him to grow up fast and accept his responsibilities. He frequently found it difficult to accept the restrictions of the illness, which finally caused his death in April 2004.
Mark had embarked on three marriages with
Storylines
1985–1987
Mark Fowler is the first of three children born to
Mark returns to Walford several times for brief visits. In July, he brings his Welsh friend
1990–2003
Mark returns to
Later that year, following the example of a friend
Mark later befriends local teenage tearaway Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton), but their friendship is severely tested when she becomes obsessed with him. Mark, still grieving for Gill, is horrified when he discovers that Mandy has been reading his late wife's diary and has dressed up in her clothes. Despite this, he invites Mandy to live with him after Den's friend Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) throws her out. On Christmas Day, Mandy goes to visit her mother but is attacked by her stepfather; Mark arrives just in time to rescue her and invites her for Christmas dinner at the Fowler household.
Mark takes over running the family fruit and vegetable stall in the market after his uncle,
Following Joe's death of an AIDS-related illness, Mark meets a
Mark is injured in a pub brawl during which he saved the square's local hardman, Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), from getting glassed by a punter. However, after calling the ambulance, Grant overhears Ruth telling the paramedics about Mark's HIV status. Around this time, Mark wins money at an illegal poker match that takes place at the Bridge Street Cafe run by Steve Elliot (Mark Monero) and gives the money to Arthur to put towards his Wilderness Flowering Fund. However, problems emerged when Arthur is arrested and charged with embezzlement after being framed for the crime by his old friend Willy Roper (Michael Tudor-Barnes). Realising that he needed to account for his share towards the fund, Mark tells the police but he needs a witness. He asks Steve to help, but Steve is not willing to help due to fear of repercussions with the two gangsters who organised the game. Arthur spends a stretch in prison, leaving Mark devastated. Steve eventually decides to help, but is then forced to leave Albert Square when he is threatened by the criminal firm. Arthur is eventually released.
To add to his problems, Mark is further devastated when Arthur dies of a brain haemorrhage in May 1996 - after being injured in a prison riot several weeks earlier and the Fowlers are in mourning. During this time, Mark's HIV issues escalates when Kathy's infant child Ben (Matthew Silver) becomes seriously ill and Grant informs his brother Phil (Steve McFadden) – the child's father – about the situation. Grant blackmails Ruth, telling her that she has until Arthur's funeral to give up babysitting Ben or he will tell the whole square about Mark's HIV status. Soon enough Phil and Kathy find out the truth about Mark's condition, which causes Ruth to lose her job as a child minder. Mark confronts Grant after learning he blackmailed Ruth about his HIV status, but Grant reassures Mark that he will not tell anyone else. On the day of his father's funeral, Mark becomes angry that Willy had attended and assaults him at the cemetery. He believes that he was the one who caused Arthur's death.
Mark's HIV status becomes public knowledge after an argument in the Queen Victoria between Pauline and fellow punter Ted Hills (Brian Croucher) is overheard by Phil and Grant's mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor). She hears Ted tell Pauline that he knows that Mark has AIDS. Peggy spreads the gossip around the Square and the residents begin to boycott Mark's fruit and vegetable stall, fearing they will catch the virus; this shows their ignorance on their knowledge of HIV or AIDS. Pauline springs to her son's defence before she and Peggy have a vicious fight, but even Pauline cannot defuse the prejudice; at one point Mark comes home to find the words "AIDS scum" graffitied on his wall. This is too much and he decides to present his neighbours with a few facts about his illness in The Queen Victoria; firstly by telling them that he does not have AIDS but is HIV positive, which is a non-contagious virus, forcing them to acknowledge their bigotry. Grant speaks to Mark the next day and tells him that no one is barred from The Queen Victoria unless he says so. Peggy remains uncertain, but is forced to realise that Mark might appreciate some support when she herself is diagnosed with breast cancer.
It is then Mark and Ruth foster a six-year-old girl named
In 2000, Mark's past troubles resurface when Nick returns to the square and the two embark on a longstanding feud. This soon gets Martin (now played by James Alexandrou) involved when Nick attempts to ensnare him with drugs in a similar manner as he once did with Mark. Towards the end of the year, Nick gets one over Mark after giving Martin ecstasy. When Mark discovers this, he decides to settle the score with his tormentor once and for all. Mark spikes Nick's drink, leads him up to the Walford viaduct, and watches delightedly as the intoxicated Nick falls – just as midnight strikes and 2001 commences. Nick survives the fall, but is left severely crippled and vows revenge against Mark. He enlists his son Ashley (Frankie Fitzgerald), who had recently befriended Martin, to take revenge on Mark. However, when Ashley is hesitant to kill Mark himself, Nick takes matters into his own hands and drains the brake fluid on his motorbike. The next day, Ashley – not knowing that his father had done – steals Mark's motorbike and attempts to run him over in a last-ditch attempt to impress his father, but is killed after he ends up crashing into the launderette. On the eve of Ashley's funeral, Mark and Nick have their final showdown when Nick attempts to kill Mark with a knife. Mark overpowers Nick, who then blurts out that he should've been the one on the motorbike instead of Ashley – thus exposing his involvement in his son's death. Mark berates Nick for causing his own son's death, then leaves him to be disowned by his mother Dot (June Brown) – who had just overheard Nick confess to his role in Ashley's death. At the end of Ashley's funeral, Mark watches as Nick leaves the square shortly afterwards and mutters to himself "Some people you're just glad to see the back of"; their rivalry is brought to an end as Mark and Nick would never see each again afterwards.
By 2001, Nick was not the only enemy Mark had been clashing with throughout the year. He embarked on a conflict with Phil after learning that he had been mistreating his girlfriend Lisa Shaw (Lucy Benjamin), whom Mark has been growing fond of from that point. Mark soon takes Lisa to live with him after she leaves Phil, and they start dating – much to Pauline's speculation. Mark also defends Kathy's son Ian (Adam Woodyatt) from Phil on several occasions, particularly when Mark witnesses Phil attacking Ian and is forced to separate them. When Phil is shot on the night his nemesis Steve Owen (Martin Kemp) and Lisa's best friend Mel Healy (Tamzin Outhwaite) get married, Mark becomes a prime suspect as the police gather information on his hatred for Phil – which leads his godson Jamie (Jack Ryder) and cousin Billy (Perry Fenwick) to each separately accuse Mark of shooting Phil. One month later, Mark learns that Phil has recovered and checked himself out of the hospital to exact revenge – prompting him to find Lisa in order to protect her from Phil. When he finds them at her house, Mark learns from Phil that it was Lisa who shot him. Lisa confesses to shooting Phil. Despite this, Mark continues to defend Lisa and tells Phil that she is not totally responsible for the crime – stating that the abuse Phil had inflicted upon Lisa is what set the course of his shooting in the first place. Phil grudgingly comes to accept these terms, and decides to cover Lisa's involvement by framing his ex-business partner Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass) for the crime. Mark and Lisa observe Phil planning to incriminate Dan in the shooting, even going as far as to get Steve and Mel involved with his plan. However, Dan is found not guilty and he takes revenge on Phil and Steve by kidnapping Mel and fleeing the country with a money ransom – all the while believing that Steve had shot Phil, meaning that Dan was never aware that Lisa had shot Phil in the first place.
At the point Phil's when actions have resulted in Dan fleeing the country and Steve's marriage with Mel were left on the verge of facing jeopardy, Mark and Lisa conduct a plan to pretend that she is expecting Mark's baby – as he had grown to love Lisa ever since her troubles with Phil had started. To facilitate their lie, Mark insists that he had taken all necessary precautions in relation to his HIV, and they fool everyone for a while. He later proposes to Lisa, shortly after her baby Louise is born. However, Mark is devastated to learn that Phil is actually the child's biological father. Eventually, Phil discovers the truth when Grant's former wife Sharon (Letitia Dean) informs him about Louise's true parentage, and Phil vows to take an active role in his daughter's upbringing. Mark and Lisa marry, but their happiness is short-lived: Lisa is still very much in love with Phil, who then decides to use this to his advantage by seducing her in order to get more access to Louise. After Sharon discovers Phil's intentions, she talks him out of his plan and he ends the affair with Lisa; but this later becomes meaningless when Mark finds out, and after just five months of marriage, Lisa leaves Mark and resumes her affair with Phil. This causes Mark to break down by the time he eventually discovers this. After confronting Phil about the discovery, Mark almost rapes Lisa. Horrified by his actions, Mark leaves Walford for a short while. However, Lisa soon realises her mistake when living with Phil, and wants to reconcile with Mark, but Pauline refuses to tell her where Mark has gone. Mark eventually returns at Christmas, when he supports Martin to deal with the aftermath of running over Jamie.
In January 2003, Mark's doctor tells him that his body is rejecting the medication that will prolong his life and slow down the onset of AIDS. Accepting that he will not live for much longer, he decides to leave rather than let his family see him endure a slow, painful death. On 14 February 2003, he makes a tearful farewell to his family and friends and rides off on his motorbike, although he remains in contact with family. In April 2004, Martin receives a telephone call from Mark's nurse, informing him that Mark has died from an AIDS-related form of
His body is returned to Walford and he is given a heartfelt send-off by the residents. Following his death, Mark would be referenced by his own family and friends during the subsequent years that go on in the square; particularly in 2011 when Mandy returns and reminisces about their friendship in conversation with Ian Beale, and again in 2015 when Nick returns and, after recalling to Dot the time he tried to kill Mark, Nick ultimately dies from a drug overdose.
Creation and development
Introduction (1985)
Mark Fowler was one of the original 23 characters invented by the creators of EastEnders,
Mark will be leaving school at Easter and is fairly certain to be joining his dad in the dole queue. Mark is a very tough little lad, and at a very dodgy stage in his development...There's a kind of amoral streak in his nature...The area does have a brutalising effect on a lot of its youngsters (page 55)[3]
Several young actors were seen and read for the part of Mark (including
Mark was originally scripted to be a wayward delinquent and was due to feature heavily within the first year of the series. However, as soon as the regular gruelling schedule of EastEnders production established itself, it became clear that Scarboro was not happy in the role. The stress of the heavy workload and the sudden fame that came to all the actors became difficult for him to cope with. He became unhappy with the schedule and his scripts and refused to play Mark as a racist as was intended. Holland and Smith decided to write the character out of the show to allow the actor to come to terms with the situation better. On-screen, Mark was being implicated in the murder of
Initial departure and brief returns
Fearing Nick Cotton and the police, Mark ran away from home in April 1985. As this had not been the original plan for the character, it meant a hectic period of re-writing early in 1985. The first 50+ scripts were reworked to accommodate this major change. Many of the stories intended for Mark were subsequently given to
Return and recast (1990)
Scarboro was never to make a return due to his
The episode in which Gill died (written by Debbie Cook and directed by Leonard Lewis) has been chosen by writer Colin Brake as one of the most memorable episodes of 1992.[4] In his book, EastEnders: The First Ten Years Blake comments, "Although in many ways the episode was sad and downbeat it was not without its positive aspects, as Mark talked to his sister about his own mortality."[4] Susanna Dawson, the actress who played Gill, found the experience of playing a person living with, and dying from, AIDS so intense that she co-produced an educational video based on the subject for use in schools and wrote a book, The Gill and Mark Story, to accompany it.[4]
HIV/AIDS
Mark became the first mainstream soap character to be diagnosed as HIV-positive. The storyline came after a government request to "spread the word".[6] Mark lived with the condition for 13 years before dying of an AIDS-related illness. The Terrence Higgins Trust worked with the production team for the duration of Mark's story.[7] Despite all the public health campaigns concerning HIV transmission, the biggest peak in requests for testing in Britain was seen in January 1991 when Mark Fowler was diagnosed HIV-positive.[8] Carty has commented: "I feel that the storyline educated people at a time when there were lots of misconceptions about HIV and AIDS…My main concern was that they'd get it right and, overall, I think they did – because it showed someone living with HIV, as opposed to dying of it."[9][10]
The storyline was widely applauded for the way it handled the plot and the following issues that the scriptwriters explored, from anti-retroviral drugs, safe sex and prejudice. The storyline was so successful in raising awareness that a 1999 survey by the National AIDS Trust found teenagers garnered most of their information about HIV from the soap.[11]
The character of Mark remained in the show for a further 13 years after his re-introduction, and featured in an array of storylines including two failed marriages, which were scripted to highlight the difficulties that can occur in a relationship when one partner has HIV and the other does not. Ultimately Mark overcame the stigma and he enjoyed several years of happy, healthy living before finally succumbing to an AIDS-related illness and dying in April 2004 off-screen. EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge said Carty had made a "fantastic contribution" to the soap and Mark has been a "pivotal figure" on Albert Square, but the character had finally run its course.[12]
Campaigners have since suggested that Mark's HIV storyline could have been handled better in the latter years. Lisa Power, head of policy at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said "in some ways the storyline was not reflective of what was happening at the time as the condition was more common among the gay community". She also said "he was perhaps killed off too early as advancements in drugs are helping people live for much longer... Saying that, one decent soap episode is worth a thousand leaflets in schools. That is why we would always go out of our way to help scriptwriters. TV and films can be very powerful."[11]
Departure (2003)
On 1 July 2002, it was announced that Mark Fowler had been axed from EastEnders and that the character was set to depart in early 2003. Carty said, "I've had 12 brilliant years on EastEnders, and they've been fantastic to me [...] I'll deeply miss all the cast and crew and everyone involved on the show." EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge said that Carty had made a "fantastic contribution" to the soap and Mark had been a "pivotal figure" on Albert Square, but the character had finally run its course. She went on to say "Todd and I have discussed this at some length and agreed that it was time for Mark to hang up his leather jacket for the last time [...] We will all miss Todd, who is one of our best-loved actors, and wish him every success in the future." BBC One's head of drama John Yorke said, "We want to thank Todd for his great contribution to EastEnders over the last 12 years."[13] Some reports disclosed that Carty was "upset and angry" by the decision to axe Mark.[14] According to Carty, the decision was "a bolt from the blue" from the producers.
On 16 December 2002, it was reported that Mark was to be killed-off.[15] It was also announced that the character's death would be shown off-screen. A spokesperson for the show said, "There is now nothing more he can do medically to stop the advancement of the infection [...] Rather than see his family suffer from the deterioration of his health and eventual death, Mark decides to leave Walford to spend his remaining days seeing the world and coming to terms with his fate." Carty said: "Portraying someone with HIV has been very challenging at times but to learn Mark has been inspirational to real-life people with HIV is really humbling." Reflecting on his time in the soap, Carty went on to say "I've had great fun, made some lovely friends and have been very lucky working with terrific scripts and storylines."[15] Mark's off-screen death aired in April 2004.[16]
Reception
Carty had said that the late EastEnders star Wendy Richard was like a mother to him. "When I was filming my goodbye scenes, those tears were real. Seeing Wendy break down was one of the most poignant moments. The whole day was so emotional – I had to hold it together and stay strong for Wendy". Carty had also told the Daily Mirror that the pair had struck up a 20-year friendship after they were cast.[17]
Following Mark's departure in February 2003, the BBC was accused of "killing" HIV victims' hopes.[18] Edinburgh-based HIV charity Waverley Care reacted negatively to scriptwriters for "scaring" victims away from seeking treatment by "painting a bleak picture". Real-life HIV survivors also hit out at the BBC for destroying their hope by failing to give an accurate view of the range of treatment now available. However, soap bosses hit back and defended the storyline as an "accurate portrayal" of many real victims' experiences. They also pointed out that they had the backing of AIDS charity The Terence Higgins Trust. David Johnson, director of Waverley Care, said "Scriptwriters for EastEnders – and other soaps – carry a huge burden of responsibility. The current story is a difficult one because, although drug treatments are not straightforward for everyone, many people do very well on them. Encouraging people to come forward for testing is a key issue – the earlier an HIV diagnosis is made, the greater the likelihood of staying well on treatments. Our concern with the Mark Fowler storyline is that it will increase the fear associated with HIV, potentially discouraging people from being tested at all or from starting on drug treatments if they feel there is little hope for the future."[18] A real-life HIV victim had been on a variety of combination therapy treatments since he was diagnosed HIV-positive. Mark's departure from EastEnders left the victim "outraged". He said, "I'm a big soap fan and, until now, feel that the HIV issue had been handled sensitively in EastEnders [...] I was very hurt and upset by the Mark Fowler story. He'd been told that there wasn't another combination of drugs available – even though he'd only had three. There are new developments in drug therapy all the time and I'm worried that this storyline will make people give up hope. Or that they won't start treatments in the first place."[18]
In 2008, All About Soap included Mark's HIV plot in their list of "top ten taboo" storylines of all time. Their writer described it as one of the "taboos which have bravely been broken by soaps."[19]
In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Mark 37th on their ranked list of the Best EastEnders characters of all time, writing how he was "at the centre of one of the soap's most controversial storylines after he contracted the HIV virus".[20]
See also
References
- ^ Wilkes, Neil (11 August 2002). "Carty's exit from the square revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ Executive Producer: Louise Berridge; Director: Nicholas Prosser; Writer: Colin Wyatt (13 April 2004). EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-563-20601-9.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-563-37057-4.
- ^ "Carty's 30 years on TV". BBC News. 4 July 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ "Policy makers stake a claim to TV soapbox", Scotsman. URL last accessed on 2006-10-16.
- ^ "Which issues have been highlighted by EastEnders?", BBC. URL last accessed on 2006-10-16.
- ^ "is the truth stronger in fiction?", Telegraph. URL last accessed on 2006-10-16.
- ^ "TODD CARTY", The Mirror. URL last accessed on 11 November 2007.
- ^ "Carty's 30 years on TV", BBC. URL last accessed on 11 November 2007.
- ^ a b "How well does TV and film tackle disease? Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine", Aegis. URL last accessed on 2006-10-16.
- ^ "EastEnders' Mark: Was it time to go?", BBC. URL last accessed on 2006-10-16.
- ^ "EastEnders Mark axed from square". BBC News. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ Freeman, Colin (4 July 2002). "Sacked Carty 'upset and angry'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ a b "EastEnders Mark to be killed-off". BBC News. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ "BBC EastEnders – April 2004 Episodes". BBC. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- ^ Nissim, Mayer (2 March 2009). "Carty: 'Wendy like a second mum to me'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ a b c "BBC accused of killing HIV victims' hopes". The Scotsman. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
- Hachette Filipacchi UK): 34, 35. 20 September – 3 October 2008.
- ^ Sara Wallis; Ian Hyland (12 June 2020). "100 Best EastEnders characters ever". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 30 November 2023.