From Albert Square to New Ventures

After more than three decades as Sonia Fowler, EastEnders favourite Natalie Cassidy has faced a tough start to life beyond Walford. Just six months after leaving the long-running BBC soap, the actress has confirmed that two of her post-soap projects have been cancelled.

Natalie, 42, told fans that her Channel 4 consumer series What’s The Big Deal? is unlikely to return after failing to make an impact with viewers. Her BBC podcast Off The Telly, co-hosted with Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page, has also ended unexpectedly.

Reflecting on the experience, Natalie shared, “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.”

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“They Do Need to Try New Things”

The Channel 4 series saw Natalie testing popular products to see if they truly lived up to the hype. It was her first major project outside acting since stepping away from EastEnders in April. The show offered a lighter, relatable format for the mother of two, but audience numbers reportedly fell short of expectations.

Speaking at a recent literary festival in Somerset, Natalie also addressed the BBC’s decision to shelve Off The Telly. “We had a laugh doing it and it’s a shame the pod ended. I don’t think it will be back,” she said.

She added, “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’s kind of what the BBC is for. The money is from you guys, so they do need to change things and make things new.”

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Life After Sonia Fowler

Natalie had taken on the new ventures following her emotional EastEnders exit earlier this year. Sonia’s departure came after decades of high drama, including heartbreak, family feuds, and tragedy. The beloved character left Albert Square with her daughters following the devastating Queen Vic explosion that marked the soap’s 40th anniversary.

Sonia’s storyline saw her mourn the loss of Martin Fowler, father to her daughter Bex, who died earlier in the year. The departure closed a major chapter in one of EastEnders’ longest-running family sagas.

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A New Chapter in the Spotlight

Despite the professional setbacks, Natalie remains optimistic. The actress was recently seen promoting her new book Happy Days, which offers a personal look at her life on and off screen. The memoir revisits her early start on EastEnders in 1993, when she was just ten years old, and her journey from child star to household name.

Natalie’s legacy as Sonia Fowler includes a British Soap Award win for Best Dramatic Performance by a Young Actor or Actress in 2004. Her mix of warmth, resilience, and humour made her one of the show’s most relatable characters.

While her latest TV and podcast ventures may have ended, fans remain hopeful that Natalie’s next step will bring her back to the screen — perhaps even to Albert Square once again.