Hidden meaning behind BBC EastEnders' Sonia's new baby name
Please note this article contains spoilers
To celebrate 40 years of the flagship BBC One soap EastEnders a special live episode on Thursday saw tragedy and beauty go hand in hand. There was new life and death, as well as a viewer decision, in the jam-packed episode.
After the Queen Vic exploded in the previous episode five characters were trapped inside the rubble – Stacey, Martin, Bianca, Sonia, and Lauren. In very moving scenes Sonia, who is played by Natalie Cassidy, gave birth to her second child in the pub while waiting for rescue.
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One emotional moment saw the baby stop breathing and while Lauren and Bianca feared the worst Sonia was able to get the baby breathing again. In one of the final scenes of the episode Sonia, in an ambulance, gives a moving speech to the baby about the love of the people in Albert Square and names her Julia.
This has a secret hidden meaning as the alternative theme tune for the series – which is slower and normally played after a death, departure of a long-standing character, or emotional moment – is called Julia's theme. This theme tune was played at the end of the live episode as, although Sonia welcomed Julia into the world, there was a character death.
Martin Fowler, who is currently played by James Bye, died after getting trapped in the explosion. Moments before his death he admitted to Stacey Slater, played by Lacey Turner, that he loved her and always has. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter.
Stacey admitted the same and then Martin asked her to marry him and she said yes. Minutes later he died with his current girlfriend Ruby Allen anxiously waiting outside the pub – unaware Martin was confessing his love to Stacey.
