EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has opened up about her decision to quit the BBC One soap after 32 years. Natalie, 41, has played Sonia Fowler since 1993 and just last week soap fans were devastated to learn she would be leaving Albert Square as part of the show's 40th anniversary,

EastEnders’ legend Natalie Cassidy first set foot in Albert Square when she was a child, playing saxophone-playing Sonia Fowler. However, she's leaving Walford behind her

Actress Natalie Cassidy is to leave EastEnders, more than three decades after her first appearance on the soap as Sonia Fowler. In a statement the 41-year-old said she was "extremely sad" but also "very excited" to be moving on.

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy is to leave the BBC soap after more than 30 years playing Sonia Fowler. The 41-year-old said she was “extremely sad” but “very excited” to be leaving, with the BBC confirming her final scenes would take place around the series 40th anniversary week beginning February 17.

In an August 2022 episode of the Comfort Eating with Grace Dent podcast, Natalie shared her experience: "I was very overweight and they approached me and said 'Listen, we're going to give you £100,000, we're going to get you really fit and you're going to lose four stone'."

Natalie Cassidy is set to bid farewell to EastEnders, nearly 32 years since her first appearance. The 41 year old actress, better known as Sonia Fowler, will depart from Walford next month during the soap's 40th anniversary celebrations.