January 31st 2025.
It's with a heavy heart that I share the news of Natalie Cassidy's departure from her iconic role as Sonia Fowler on EastEnders. As a long-time fan of the show, I can't help but feel a sense of loss as we bid farewell to the soap queen who first graced our screens back in 1993. Her final scenes as Sonia will be filmed next month, and I can't help but wonder what the show's writers have in store for her character as her current storyline comes to a close.
Just a few days ago, I excitedly shared with my colleagues at Metro Soaps my anticipation for what was to come for Sonia in the coming weeks. After all, poor Son' has been through so much recently - from being wrongly imprisoned for murder to having her twisted fiancé, Reiss Colwell, hold her sister Bianca Jackson hostage for months. And just when things seemed to be looking up with her release from prison, she finds herself trapped in a storage container, unaware that her true love, Jamie Mitchell, was killed in a tragic accident. It seems like doom and gloom has followed Sonia since her childhood days on Albert Square.
But amidst all the tragedy, we can't forget that Natalie Cassidy is a talented comedic actress with a great sense of humor. For over 30 years, she has embraced Sonia's infamous trumpet, a minor storyline from her teenage years when she decided to learn the brass instrument. Some actors might have felt annoyed by viewers still remembering this detail, but not Natalie. She has found the humor in it and even appeared as a guest on RuPaul's Drag Race UK. She has also made guest appearances in sitcoms and is a regular on Joe Lycett's Late Night Lycett show.
As we say goodbye to Sonia, we also can't help but reflect on the legacy of another beloved character, Dot Cotton. With Sonia gone, it's likely that Dot's iconic home will be redeveloped and lost forever, leaving a void in the show's nostalgic charm. But change is inevitable, and it's time for Sonia to move on to new adventures.
As we look forward to the show's 40th anniversary in 2025, fans can expect some exciting surprises. The show will go live once again, and viewers will even have the power to vote on one storyline's outcome. We'll also see the return of Grant Mitchell, played by Ross Kemp, and the unmasking of Cindy Beale's attacker. And for a trip down memory lane, Ross Kemp will host a special documentary taking us behind the scenes of the show's history.
As we celebrate 40 years of EastEnders, it's bittersweet to see Natalie leave the show for the third time. But she has already proven to be a force to be reckoned with outside of Albert Square, hosting podcasts and even rumored to be a contestant on The Masked Singer. And as we say goodbye, let's hope that Natalie's final episode includes a heart-wrenching rendition of Julia's Theme featuring her iconic trumpet. It's the least we can do to give Sonia Fowler the last laugh.
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