Natalie Cassidy, best known for her long-running role as Sonia Fowler on EastEnders, has revealed why she won’t be taking part in reality TV shows after leaving the iconic BBC soap earlier this year.
Cassidy, who portrayed Sonia for several stints from 1993 to 2025, departed as part of the show’s 40th anniversary celebrations. Now looking for new projects, the actress admitted that while she has previously participated in reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother, Strictly Come Dancing, and The Masked Singer, she plans to steer clear of similar formats in the future.
“I’m Such a Scaredy-Cat”
Speaking exclusively to The Sun’s TV Mag, Cassidy shared her apprehensions about shows like I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!:
“I always think about I’m A Celebrity and I just don’t know if I can do it as I’m such a scaredy-cat,” she said. “I don’t like heights, I don’t like insects. I mean, I just think I’d be up every night, walking up to Ant and Dec, crossing that bridge for another trial.”
She added that despite her fondness for Strictly Come Dancing, she feels that reality shows like I’m A Celeb and Dancing On Ice are ever-present and might not align with her current career goals. “I feel that now’s the time to do a few different things,” she explained.
Moving on from EastEnders
Cassidy opened up about the difficulty of leaving EastEnders after being part of the show on and off for 32 years. Starting her journey at just 10 years old, she described the soap as her home and admitted that the decision to leave was not easy.
“It’s not a job to me, EastEnders. I’ve been there on and off for 32 years, and I’m only 42 this year. It’s a hard place to leave,” Cassidy shared. “There was a lot of thought over it, but it’s the right time and the right decision, I’m sure of it.”
The actress also expressed excitement about having more control over her schedule, something she couldn’t enjoy while filming the soap. “With EastEnders, every week you’re waiting for a Thursday to know what you’re doing for the next week. You can’t book a theatre show, you can’t say to your children: ‘I’ll be there on sports day.’ Now I can look at a diary and say: ‘I’m not working that day.’ I do feel that you have more freedom. I can plan!”
Future Plans
Cassidy has been focusing on her podcast projects, which she says are doing well and allowing her to step away from EastEnders with confidence. Although she remains open to new opportunities, she is cautious about jumping into reality TV without the right motivation. “If I’ve got a very large tax bill and get offered an extreme amount of money, then you might see me in the jungle,” she joked.
Fans of the beloved actress will no doubt be eager to see what projects she takes on next as she steps into this new chapter of her career.
