Natalie Cassidy makes subtle dig at EastEnders as she reveals why she really left
Natalie Cassidy has opened up about her departure from EastEnders as the iconic Sonia Fowler, revealing the real reason she left the long-running soap after 32 years
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Natalie Cassidy has admitted she had to leave EastEnders if she wanted a presenting career because the soap is “like a factory” and wouldn’t allow her to take chunks of time off for other projects. The 41-year-old has left Albert Square and her role of Sonia Fowler after more than two decades of work and will front a new consumer series for Channel 4 next month.
She gave an insight into how soaps have to churn out the episodes quickly these days in the way she described work there.
Speaking about the decision to leave, Natalie said:” I left because I felt the time was right to do so, I was ready for a challenge after 32 years.
“I adore EastEnders, but you can’t do everything, and EastEnders is a factory with 60 cast members and 300 staff, so they can’t cater for someone who says ‘By the way, I need two months off to do this, I need another three months off to do this’. It’s not fair,” she said.
“It had to be a clean break so I could focus on other projects and spend time with my family, which I haven’t been doing enough of in recent months.
Natalie added: “Even during EastEnders, I always consciously branched out, because a change is as good as a rest, and I think it’s important to come out of your comfort zone. I think you can get too comfortable. You need to keep things fresh going forward.”
Natalie left EastEnders after 32 years(Image: BBC/Firebird/Natalie Seery)
Her new show is called What’s The Big Deal and is about our consumer habits in 2025, sometimes making purchases without thinking them through or checking if the product is good quality or a good price.
She said: “I get sucked into things, which happens a lot around Christmas. What’s The Big Deal? is designed to prevent these purchases and make people think a bit harder before they buy in a cost of living crisis, and when it’s so easy to click and buy these days, we think it’s an important programme.”
Natalie also told Bella magazine that she found that presenting came “quite naturally” to her and she hopes to do more in the future. Presenting work may also fit into family time more easily than her work on EastEnders.
She shares her home with fiance Marc Humpreys and after 10 years together they have two children, Joanie, 8, and Eliza, 14, from Natalie’s previous relationship with Adam Cottrell.
Natalie added: “It’s hard. I’m not sure whether it’s keeping the plates spinning in the air or putting out fires. You feel guilty about not spending more time at home, but you need to take the opportunities when they come along to earn money.
“You have to accept that not every bit of your life can be perfect all the time, any time off I do have, I’m at home with my partner, Marc and the kids. I’ve only got a handful of friends: real friends who know they will see me when I’m less busy and won’t get grumpy and make comments at not having seen me for a while.”
What’s The Big Deal? Starts on Channel 4 on April 4.
