EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy lands brand new show with BBC after quitting soap – and it's worlds away from Walford
EASTENDERS legend Natalie Cassidy has landed a brand new BBC show following her soap exit - and it's worlds away from Walford.
Natalie, 41,
4
Natalie Cassidy has landed a brand new show with the BBC
Credit: PA
4
She bowed out as EastEnders' Sonia Fowler earlier this month
Credit: BBC
4
It marks Natalie's latest project away from Albert Square
Credit: Getty
BBC
Daytime have commissioned a new series - under the working title Natalie Cassidy Learning to Care - for BBC One and iPlayer.
The actress will fulfil her longtime ambition of wanting to train as carer.
This means enrolling at one of the UK's top
Health
& Social Care colleges - alongside the next generation of carers.
In recent years, Natalie has cared for family members and volunteered in local groups.
Read more on Natalie Cassidy
The show follows her journey across classroom to community care services - as she's there for life's toughest moments.
While to fully make things official, the actress will have to pass her final exam.
Natalie said: 'I'm thrilled to be embarking on a new adventure with
BBC
Daytime.
"In a series exploring social care, I will be going back to college and learning for the first time since leaving school at 16.
Most read in Soaps
"Caring has always been a huge part of my life, from watching my mum care for my nan, to being a mother to caring for my dad, this series is close to my heart and I can't wait for you to see it.'
Muslim Alim, Commissioning Editor for
BBC
Daytime commented: "We are thrilled to be working with
Natalie Cassidy
on this exciting new series.
EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy drops biggest hint yet about when Sonia Fowler will return after shock exit from soap
"Audiences know and love Natalie for her humour, honesty and heart — and now they'll see her in a whole new light as she throws herself into the world of care, not as a
celebrity
, but as a student carer learning from the ground up.
"Natalie's personal experiences have given her a deep, authentic connection to care, and through her journey, we hope to celebrate the unsung individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others."
It is the star's latest project away from playing Sonia Fowler in
EastEnders
.
Sonia Fowler's biggest EastEnders storylines
Sonia Fowler has featured in EastEnders since 1993, and after starring in thousands of episodes, has been featured in storylines ranging from teenage pregnancy to a cancer scare. Here are some of her biggest.
Teen Pregnancy and Birth of Chloe Jackson (1999-2000)
Sonia discovered she was pregnant at the age of 15. Viewers were shocked by the sudden birth, as the teen went into labour without even realising she was pregnant. Martin Fowler turned out to be Chloe's father. Sonia initially decided to give the girl up for adoption.
Death of her boyfriend (2002)
Sonia's boyfriend, Jamie Mitchell, was hit by a car driven by her baby's father. Jamie had just bought an engagement ring for his girlfriend before being struck down by the thoughtless Martin, who was texting while driving. Although the Jamie was rushed to hospital, docs said his liver was irreparably damaged, and he ended up dying with Sonia by his side.
Marriage to Martin Fowler and Family Tensions (2004-2007)
In a shock twist Sonia went on to marry the man responsible for her previous boyfriend's death. Their relationship was marred by conflicts and infidelity, and they went on to split up after just three years. At one point in their marriage Sonia was taken hostage by Sarah Cairns, who became obsessed with Martin after he flirted with her during a drunken night out. The couple went through struggles again when the adoptive parents of their daughter were killed in a car crash, leaving them responsible for Rebecca. Because of the tension in their relationship Sonia ended up cheating on her husband with one of her co-workers, nurse Naomi Julien.
Custody Battle for Rebecca (2005-2007)
Baby Chloe, who was renamed Rebecca, was kidnapped by her mum early in life before being returned to her adoptive parents. After Neil and Sue Miller died they awarded Martin full custody of the child because of Sonia's extra-marital affair. The mum was left distraught to be cut out of her daughter's life.
Gastric Band Surgery and Weight Struggles (2014-2015)
Sonia became insecure about her weight and arranged to have a secret gastric band surgery in Bulgaria. She later collapsed at an exercise class after suffering complications from the operation.
Discovery of Bex's Suicide Attempt (2019)
Sonia's daughter Rebecca tried to take her own life in a heartbreaking storyline which left viewers in tears. She found Bex unconscious after taking an overdose, and was devastated. Sonia blamed herself for pushing her daughter to breaking point, as she had tried to force her into going to Oxford despite Bex saying she didn't feel ready for university.
She also fronts the Channel 4 consumer affairs show What's the Big Deal?
Meanwhile, fans can hear Natalie on two
podcasts
- Off the Telly (alongside Joanna Page) as well as Life with Nat.
She also took part in The Masked Singer earlier this year, in disguise as Bush.
Natalie
4
Natalie is fulfilling a longtime ambition of training as a carer
Credit: BBC Daytime
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
9 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Starmer claims Kneecap Glastonbury set 'not appropriate'
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has claimed he does not think Belfast rap trio Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate". He made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara, appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. In an interview with The Sun, Mr Starmer was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: "No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. "This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate." It comes after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch claimed she thought the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at the festival next week. Ms Badenoch said in the X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. "One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. "As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism." The Tory Leader has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. After the case, the band split the money between two community groups - one on either side of the Belfast peace line. Watch: Kneecap's Mo Chara tells Dublin crowd 'I'm a free man!' Kneecap took aim at Ms Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May. The song mocked her attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise Ó Cairealláin, whose stage name is Móglaí Bap, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, whose stage name is DJ Próvaí, at Westminster Magistrates' Court in "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts. Speaking to RTÉ News before their gig in Dublin on Thursday, DJ Próvaí said that there was "great support there from 1,000 people" and that fans had gathered because "they know we're going to win". During the proceedings, a prosecutor told the court the 27-year-old is "well within his rights" to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a "wholly different thing". Mr Ó hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on 20 August. Following the hearing, the rapper said: "For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. "If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. "But most importantly: free, free Palestine." The charge came following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. "We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? "To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. "Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. "The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it." Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kneecap Glastonbury slot 'not appropriate', says British PM Keir Starmer
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he does not think Kneecap's planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate". He made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a gig in November last year. In an interview with The Sun, Mr Starmer was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: "No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. "This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate." It comes after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thought the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecap's performance at the festival next week. Mrs Badenoch said in the X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. "One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism." The Tory Leader of the Opposition has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister. Kneecap took aim at Mrs Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May, with the song mocking the politician's attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss. On Wednesday, O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts. During the proceedings, a prosecutor told the court the 27-year-old is "well within his rights" to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a "wholly different thing". O hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20. Following the hearing, the rapper said: "For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday. "If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September. "But most importantly: free, free Palestine." The charge came following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs. In April, Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been "exploited and weaponised". In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: "14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. "We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction. "We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective? "To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out. "Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. "The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it." Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English and their merchandise. Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag. A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. "Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead-up to the festival."
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Under-fire BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty says she hates bullies in new interview after being rapped by BBC bosses
UNDER-fire BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has said she hates bullies. It comes amid the Sun's exposé on toxicity at the morning show, with editor Advertisement 4 Under-fire BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has said she hates bullies 4 BBC hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty Credit: BBC 4 Naga looked tense as she smoked a cigarette before show Credit: Zenpix Complaints were also made about The TV and radio host, who grew up in Streatham, South London, said: 'I was no angel but I hated seeing people bullied. "I remember there were a couple of kids in school who were bullied and I just hated it. "So I'd always kind of be that person who would speak to everyone.' Advertisement Read more on Naga Munchetty She told the Walking The Dog podcast she 'upholds certain values' working for the BBC. Naga was said to have made a She was also rapped for The BBC said: 'We take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously.' Advertisement Most read in News TV Awkward moment Naga smirks during segment about being 'appropriate at work' 4 Editor Richard Frediani is on extended leave amid bullying claims Credit: Getty
