EastEnders legends Natalie Cassidy and Patsy Palmer have officially confirmed that they have filmed their final scenes as Sonia Fowler and Bianca Jackso
Fans of the long-running BBC soap were left speculating about Sonia’s fate following the dramatic anniversary episodes in
which The Queen Vic explosion left several lives hanging in the balance.
However, while Sonia survived the ordeal and even gave birth to her daughter Julia amidst the chaos, her departure from the soap was still looming.
Natalie Cassidy, who has played Sonia on and off since 1993, has now revealed that she has wrapped up filming her final scenes.
Speaking on her podcast, Off The Telly, alongside co-host Joanna Page,
she shared her emotions about leaving the show after decades of portraying one of Walford’s most beloved characters. 
“I went to the nail shop this morning to get new nails and I got my hair done because yesterday I left EastEnders,” Natalie disclosed. Despite the sentimental nature of the moment, she admitted that she had not yet shed any tears.
“I feel really good, I feel really excited. It was a brilliant day at work. I haven’t shed a tear, which is strange. I don’t know when that’s coming,” she continued. “But I’ve had the most beautiful presents and cards from everybody. We had a soiree last night which was absolutely lovely. I did my scenes that were really lovely. And it’s just brilliant. I feel really excited now for the next chapter.”
Aside from bidding farewell to the soap, Natalie has recently shared another exciting milestone—she has written her first book. As she embarks on a new journey outside of Walford, fans are eager to see what’s next for the actress.
Meanwhile, Patsy Palmer, another beloved EastEnders legend, has also confirmed her exit from the soap. Patsy returned to the show in March 2024 as part of her stepdaughter Whitney Dean’s exit storyline. However, her time back in Albert Square has now come to an end.
Taking to social media, Patsy shared a heartfelt tribute to her character Bianca Jackson. She posted a picture of her iconic alter ego on Instagram with the caption: “Bye bye B. Always grateful to see her again.”
In another post, Patsy reflected on her time back on the show and expressed gratitude to her fellow cast members, including Natalie Cassidy.
“Thanks to all my beautiful @bbceastenders family for a wonderful few months of love and history making,” she wrote. “Honoured to have been part of it. @natcass1 I’ll miss my sis!”
Bianca and Sonia’s most recent scenes together have been filled with tension, largely due to their emotional struggles following Sonia’s split from Reiss. However, in a heartfelt moment during their last episode together, the sisters managed to reconcile and mend their strained relationship.
With both actresses now officially having filmed their exits, viewers are left wondering how the soap will bid farewell to two of its most cherished characters. Will Sonia’s departure be a permanent one, or could she make a return in the future? And will Bianca ever make another comeback to Walford? EastEnders has a history of bringing back iconic characters, so fans will be keeping their fingers crossed.
Natalie Cassidy and Patsy Palmer have both played a significant part in EastEnders history, with Sonia and Bianca becoming two of the soap’s most well-loved figures. Their departure marks the end of an era, but their impact on Albert Square will not be forgotten.
As their final scenes air, EastEnders fans will no doubt be tuning in to see how Sonia and Bianca’s stories conclude. One thing is certain—the Mitchell-Fowler family dynamics in Walford will never be quite the same without them.
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 “𝑭𝒂𝒏𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒆 & 𝑾𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆: 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑠.𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜” 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧-𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬
