Patsy Palmer, famous for playing Bianca Jackson in EastEnders, has paid tribute to Natalie Cassidy, who portrayed Sonia Fowler for nearly 32 years.

EastEnders’ Patsy Palmer proud of ‘most fantastic’ soap sister Natalie Cassidy - Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, announced she will be leaving the BBC soap after more than 30 years.

Patsy Palmer has paid tribute to EastEnders co-star Natalie Cassidy after the actress announced she would be leaving the BBC soap after more than 30 years. Palmer, 52, who plays Bianca Jackson, the on-screen half-sister of Cassidy’s character Sonia Fowler, said she was proud of the actress’s work, business ventures and family.

Actress Natalie Cassidy is to leave EastEnders, more than three decades after her first appearance on the soap as Sonia Fowler. In a statement the 41-year-old said she was "extremely sad" but also "very excited" to be moving on.

EastEnders fans are convinced that Sonia Fowler will be killed off after Natalie Cassidy quit the BBC soap this week after nearly 32 years on the soap as the trumpet-playing character

Following the sudden news Natalie Cassidy is leaving EastEnders, fans of the BBC One soap have seemingly worked out how her character Sonia Fowler will leave. Star Natalie, who made her EastEnders debut back in 1993,