EastEnders icon Natalie Cassidy has had two of her new shows axed within just six months of leaving the BBC soap. The 42-year-old, who played Sonia Fowler in the soap, told fans her consumer series What’s The Big Deal? is unlikely to be renewed after failing to become a hit on Channel 4.
Natalie’s BBC podcast, which she co-hosted with Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page also appears to have come to an abrupt end. Speaking about the future of her Channel 4 series, Natalie admitted: “I don’t think it went down very well, if I’m honest. I don’t think it will come back. At the moment there is no talk of it. But I loved it and it was a great experience for me to do.”
What’s The Big Deal saw the mum-of-two try out popular products to see if they lived up to the hype, in a huge career step away from acting. Meanwhile her podcast, called Off The Telly, saw Natalie chat about all things TV with Joanna, famed for playing Stacey in the popular sitcom.
Natalie tried her hand at the new projects after playing EastEnders favourite Sonia on and off for 32 years, the Mirror reports.
Sonia finally departed in April with her two daughters following gripping storylines, including the passing of Martin Fowler, father to her daughter Bex, who died in the tragic 40th anniversary Queen Vic explosion.
However, her new work presented challenges for Natalie, who confessed to fans at a literary festival in Somerset that the BBC had second thoughts about the podcast.
She said: “We had a laugh doing it and it is a shame the pod ended. I don’t think it will be back.
“With the BBC sometimes, what happens is, through no fault of their own, they love exploring new stuff and they do chop and change.
“If something isn’t massively, massively popular, then they will just get rid and try new material. That is kind of what the BBC is for. The money is from you guys, so they do need to change things and make things new.”
Natalie was at the event to promote her new book Happy Days, which is about her life on and off screen and shares insights into her long standing role in EastEnders from 1993 when she was just 10-years-old.
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As a child, Natalie won the Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress gong at the British Soap Awards in 2004, and enjoyed 21 more years portraying Sonia.
The beloved character had a complicated marriage with Martin, which ended in 2006 when Sonia began an affair with Naomi Julien.
They eventually reconciled and Sonia was heartbroken when he died in February this year.
