Martin Fowler has returned to EastEnders and in tonight's episode was embroiled in a dramatic showdown with Ben Mitchell.

He returned to the soap after his daughter Bex's suicide bid, having been on the run with wife Stacey.

Ben was not happy to see him as the pair have been feuding since the soap saw Stacey hit Martin over the head with a wrench after he was trying to kill her husband Phil.

Ben covered up the crime - before blackmailing the family by keeping the wrench Stacey used.

Ben catches sight of Martin across the road (
Image:
BBC)
The pair lay eyes on each other and glare furiously at the end of the episode (
Image:
BBC)

When the pair came head to head in tonight's ep, they stared each other out in a furious showdown.

Martin was on the phone to wife Stacey, who was asking if he had seen Ben, at the exact moment he laid eyes on his nemesis.

And excited viewers predict a huge fight will ensure as the pair stared each other out right at the end of the episode.

"Oh dear Ben has just seen Martin" said one.

"Ben vs Martin oh boy!!" said a second.

"B****y hell. Ben looking scared!!!" said a third.

Ben has previously blackmailed Martin into helping him (
Image:
BBC / Jack Barnes)
Ben and Martin have been feuding as Ben blackmailed the Fowlers (
Image:
BBC / Jack Barnes)

A fourth declared: "Martin Fowler vs Ben Mitchell is the longstanding feud #EastEnders needs."

While another predicted "Ben’s going to try and blackmail Martin innit".

One called Ben's stare " the bad boy look".

Meanwhile, Sonia was furious at Martin for leaving his daughter at a time she needed him the most.

Not knowing about what Stacey did, she berated him for not contacting Bex.

Martin returned from being on the run after his daughter Bex attempted suicide (
Image:
BBC)

Soap boss Kate Oates told The Sun Online viewers can expect a turn to the dark side from Martin.

She said: "It's a great story for Martin (James Bye) when he comes back.

"We will see a very different side to Martin, which James is loving, I believe. It gives him a chance to get his teeth into something different."

At tonight's Inside Soap Awards Max Bowden, who plays Ben, won Best Bad Boy.