Actress Natalie Cassidy is to go away EastEnders, greater than three a long time after her first look on the cleaning soap as Sonia Fowler.
In an announcement the 41-year-old mentioned she was “extraordinarily unhappy” but additionally “very excited” to be shifting on.
Her exit storyline has not but been confirmed, however the BBC mentioned her closing scenes would air across the time of the cleaning soap’s fortieth anniversary in February.
The BBC has additionally introduced EastEnders will broadcast a dwell episode on 20 February, which is able to embody a plot end result which has been determined by viewers.
Cassidy mentioned: “After one other 11 stable years again on the sq., I’ve determined it is time to transfer on to pastures new.
“EastEnders is in my bones so I’ll always remember the place I began my profession and I’ll proceed to like the present,” Cassidy mentioned.
“Thanks to [executive producer] Chris Clenshaw for the chance to be such an enormous a part of the fortieth anniversary – it is an honour. See you, Sonia, going however by no means forgotten.”
Cassidy made her first look within the cleaning soap in 1993, leaving the cleaning soap in 2007, earlier than returning briefly between 2010 and 2011, and later coming again to Walford in 2014.
Sonia is at present pregnant with Reiss Colwell’s (Jonny Freeman) child unaware that he killed his ex-wife Debbie (Jenny Meier), against the law Sonia was later charged with, however was discovered not responsible after a video emerged of her half-sister Bianca Butcher (Patsy Palmer) confessing to the crime.
EastEnders govt producer Clenshaw mentioned of Cassidy’s departure: “During the last 31 years in EastEnders, Natalie has been concerned in among the present’s most iconic and explosive storylines.
“Her portrayal of Sonia has made her a agency fan favorite amongst the viewers.
“I will not be revealing the [minute] particulars referring to her exit, however I can say that she’s going to take a central position within the fortieth anniversary storylines in every week of actually unmissable drama that may change the lives of these in Walford without end.
“I would prefer to thank Natalie for her time at EastEnders, and I want her all the very best for the long run.”
Sonia is well-known for her poor trumpet taking part in, which angered her household and neighbours, throughout her early days on the cleaning soap.
A few of her largest storylines embody her being bullied by her good friend Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix) after she fell in with the flawed crowd in school, and her teenage being pregnant.
The cleaning soap’s fortieth anniversary can even see the return of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) after a close to 10-year absence.
On Friday, the BBC additionally confirmed it might air a dwell episode as a part of the cleaning soap’s fortieth anniversary celebrations.
The dwell episode will characteristic the results of an interactive twist, which is able to see viewers have energy to determine the end result of Denise Fox’s love story, and whether or not her future must be with Jack or Ravi.
The occasions of the anniversary week episodes will happen over someday in Albert Sq., with an hour-long episode airing on 19 February, adopted by the dwell episode the next evening.
