Natalie Cassidy to leave EastEnders after more than 30 years

EastEnders prima Natalie Cassidy has confirmed she volition permission the soap aft much than 30 years. 

The 41-year-old histrion has played Sonia Fowler connected and disconnected since 1993, but shared connected Thursday that she is present officially leaving Albert Square, the fictional country of eastbound London wherever the soap is set.

"I consciousness highly bittersweet to beryllium penning this, but besides precise excited," she said successful a statement.

"After different 11 coagulated years backmost connected the square, I person decided it's clip to determination connected to pastures new. EastEnders is successful my bones, truthful I volition ne'er hide wherever I started my vocation and I volition proceed to emotion the show."

Cassidy said it was "an honour" to beryllium "such a large part" of the soap's upcoming 40th day special, earlier adding: "See you, Sonia, going but ne'er forgotten."

The BBC confirmed Cassidy's last scenes volition instrumentality spot astir the series' 40th day week, which begins connected 17 February.

Precisely however she volition permission the amusement has not been announced.

Her quality is presently large with Reiss Colwell's (Jonny Freeman) baby, unaware that helium killed his ex-wife Debbie - a transgression Sonia was aboriginal charged with. She was recovered not blameworthy aft a video emerged of her half-sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) confessing to the crime.

It is the latest successful a bid of melodramatic events that person followed Sonia implicit the years.

'A steadfast favourite'

Other large storylines included Sonia being bullied aft she fell successful with the incorrect assemblage astatine schoolhouse and her teenage gestation with Martin Fowler (played by Jon Peyton-Price and James Alexandrou), who she aboriginal married.

Cassidy archetypal near the soap successful 2007 earlier returning concisely betwixt 2010 and 2011. She returned erstwhile again to Walford successful 2014.

She was described by EastEnders enforcement shaper Chris Clenshaw arsenic a "firm favourite amongst viewers".

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"Over the past 31 years successful EastEnders, Natalie has been progressive successful immoderate of the show's astir iconic and explosive storylines," helium said.

"I won't beryllium revealing the finite details relating to her exit, but I tin accidental that she volition instrumentality a cardinal relation successful the 40th day storylines successful a week of genuinely unmissable play that volition alteration the lives of those successful Walford forever.

"I'd similar to convey Natalie for her clip astatine EastEnders, and I privation her each the champion for the future."

Outside the soap, Cassidy appeared connected Celebrity Big Brother successful 2012 and presently hosts podcasts Life With Nat and Off The Telly.