After more than three decades on EastEnders, Natalie Cassidy has confirmed her departure from the role of Sonia Fowler. However, the actress has now revealed that she had no control over how her character will leave Albert Square.
After 32 years on the BBC soap, she made the decision to leave, but the circumstances of her exit remain out of her hands. Now, as EastEnders gears up for its massive 40th-anniversary celebration, all signs point to a dramatic and possibly tragic end for Sonia.
Cassidy Reveals Producers Control Sonia’s Exit
Speaking on her podcast Off The Telly, alongside co-stars Patsy Palmer and Joanna Page, Cassidy confirmed she had no say in how her character leaves Walford. Unlike some actors who negotiate their exits to ensure they aren’t killed off, Cassidy admitted that wasn’t an option for her. Natalie said: “It is never ever your choice – you never know how you are gonna go. “You can make your own choice to go, but it’s down to them [the producers] what they do.”
Palmer, who played Bianca Jackson, pointed out that leaving around a major anniversary always carried risks. Cassidy acknowledged that the timing of her exit was not ideal. She suggested that major storylines often meant actors had little say in their departure. She also mentioned that producers typically provide a bit of notice when big changes are coming, allowing actors to prepare for their character’s fate.
Cassidy’s Exit Speculation
Unlike some who assume soap roles are permanent, Cassidy maintained that she had always treated her contract as temporary. She explained that she had never relied on the soap as a long-term career. This mindset had helped her avoid disappointment if the producers ever decided to write Sonia out.
As part of next week’s episodes, the soap will mark its 40th anniversary with one of its most intense storylines yet. A devastating fire will break out at the Queen Vic and trap several residents inside—including Sonia. Sonia will go into labour while stuck inside the burning pub. With no clear escape route, both her and her baby’s lives will be at serious risk. She will not be alone in the disaster, as two other Walford residents will also find themselves caught in the flames—though their identities have not yet been revealed.
Cassidy’s departure lines up with this dramatic sequence—this has raised speculation that Sonia may not survive. The executive producer Chris Clenshaw confirmed that Cassidy would play a major role in the anniversary episodes, hinting that her storyline would have lasting consequences for Walford. Whether Sonia and her baby will survive remains uncertain and we will have to stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more EastEnders updates.
