BBC EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy reveals real reason she quit soap after 32 years

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has opened up about her decision to quit the BBC One soap after 32 years.

Natalie, 41, has played Sonia Fowler since 1993 and just last week soap fans were devastated to learn she would be leaving Albert Square as part of the show's 40th anniversary, a decision she made in the summer.

The actress first joined Walford in 1993 as part of the Jackson family, which included on-screen sister Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. Natalie left in 2007 before returning between 2010 and 2011, just three years later in 2014 she returned once again where she has remained ever since.

Talking about her reason to leave EastEnders, Natalie told The Sun on Sunday: "I’m 42 this year, I just feel like it’s time to be brave. You don’t want to get to 70 and think, 'I never tried that'. I’ve loved this programme with all my heart. I started at ten, it’s in my bones, it’s in my heart."

She added: "I’d been thinking about it for a little while. I had a wonderful chat with Chris back in the summer. It’s just exciting."

Natalie admitted as an actress "you can’t hypothesise or worry about what’s going to happen to your character", saying: "That is down to the boss and the storyliners as the fate of Sonia is in their hands. I’ve had to take a deep breath, and go, 'I’ve made my decision, I’ve just got to let it play out'."

As the unlucky-in-love, trumpet-playing Walford resident, Sonia has been involved in several big moments over the years. From teenage pregnancy to affairs and feuds, her time in Walford has not been short of drama. Especially at the moment, as recently, she found herself behind bars for a murder she didn’t commit.

Fans will recall how Her beau Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) ended up killing his ex-wife