Patsy Palmer, famous for playing Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, has paid tribute to Natalie Cassidy, who portrayed Sonia Fowler for nearly 32 years.

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy is set to bid farewell to Albert Square after an extraordinary 32-year run as Sonia Fowler, with her final scenes to be filmed this month. The 41-year-old actress, who first appeared on the BBC soap in December 1993,

EastEnders’ Patsy Palmer proud of ‘most fantastic’ soap sister Natalie Cassidy - Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, announced she will be leaving the BBC soap after more than 30 years.

Patsy Palmer has paid tribute to EastEnders co-star Natalie Cassidy after the actress announced she would be leaving the BBC soap after more than 30 years. Palmer, 52, who plays Bianca Jackson, the on-screen half-sister of Cassidy’s character Sonia Fowler, said she was proud of the actress’s work, business ventures and family.

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 fans are convinced that Sonia Fowler will be killed off after Natalie Cassidy quit the BBC soap this week after nearly 32 years on the soap as the trumpet-playing character