Natalie Cassidy has teased fans with the prospect of making a sensational return to EastEnders after her farewell scenes aired.
Back in 1997, Natalie first graced our screens as Sonia Fowler on the soap and took her final bow in 2007. Following that, she made fleeting appearances from 2010 to 2011 and had a brief stint in Walford in 2014.
Now, 11 years have passed since she last set foot on the famed set. However, excitement flared when the official EastEnders account shared nostalgic clips of Natalie’s performances, prompting fans to express how much they’ve missed Sonia.
What’s more, even the actress herself participated in the walk down memory lane. After dedicating 32 intermittent years to portraying Sonia, Natalie hinted that we might not have seen the last of her character inhabiting Albert Square.
In words that will no doubt thrill viewers, she playfully hinted at a possible EastEnders revival by saying “you never know”.
Natalie said: “Thank you for watching Sonia, I love her with all my heart and you never know what’s going to happen.” She also professed her undying loyalty to ‘EastEnders’, describing herself as “the show’s biggest fan”.
After being synonymous with EastEnders since childhood, Natalie waved goodbye to the show in 2014. She decided to step back to cherish moments with her daughters Eliza, who is now 14, and eight year old Joanie.
A decade ago, she felt it was a true “goodbye” to Sonia. Speaking to Radio Times magazine, she said: “A fresh start starts to feel appealing. It’s good to rest a character, though this time I felt I was really saying goodbye.”
But Natalie’s recent remarks have sparked excitement among fans that a return to EastEnders might be in the pipeline. She’s certainly been busy with a variety of thrilling ventures over the past few years.
Natalie graced our screens on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2012 and was the fifth contestant to leave the house. She has also shared her views as a guest panelist on Loose Women and showcased her vocal talents on The Masked Singer last year.
We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that Natalie will grace our screens again before long!