EastEnders: Ben Mitchell and Martin Fowler’s feud explained in full ahead of showdown tonight

EASTENDERS' Martin Fowler is back in the Square after daughter Bex’s devastating suicide bid.

But while his family and friends are delighted to see him, there's one person who’s less than chuffed – Ben Mitchell. But why do they hate each other again? Here’s a quick recap…

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Why do Ben and Martin hate each other in EastEnders?

It all started when Martin’s wife, Stacey, smacked Ben’s dad, Phil Mitchell, over the head with a wrench back in the summer.

Fans of the BBC One soap saw Stacey (Lacey Turner) walk in on Phil nearly killing her husband.

And Stacey – who’s not adverse to caving men’s skulls in – walloped Phil over the head in a moment of panic - knocking him into the pit at The Arches.

But while the mum of three, Martin and Kat pondered over what to do in the aftermath of the attack, Ben (Max Bowden) walked in and said he’d sort it out.

His actual plan was to frame Keanu Taylor for the attack but it all backfired and Kat ended up confessing to Phil that she hit him.

Ben has continued to keep hold of the wrench though, reminding the Slaters that it’s covered with Stacey’s prints and not Kat's.

Having already served time for killing Archie Mitchell, Stacey knew she'd be heading back to prison if Ben exposed the truth, and so chose to go on the run with Martin and the children.

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Will Ben let Stacey come home?

Ben’s softened a bit since the fall-out with Phil and his romance with Callum Highway - but it doesn’t look like he’s being kind enough to let the Fowlers off the hook that easily by allowing Stacey to come home.

Spoilers have revealed that Ben will use the wrench as a way of blackmailing poor fruit and veg flogger Martin into doing his dirty work for him.

And with Stacey’s freedom at stake, Martin has no choice but to do what Ben wants.

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Last week The Sun Online exclusively revealed that Martin is set to go down a dark path while working for Ben – eventually turning evil.

Kate Oates told The Sun Online: "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."

• EastEnders is on BBC One, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays