Life with Nat - EP70: MORGANA ROBINSON

Episode Date: December 19, 2024

WE ARE JUST DOIN THIS NOW. No words are needed. Just enjoy one of the best podcasts I’ve ever recorded. X Please subscribe, follow, and leave a review. xxx You can find us in all places here; https://podfollow.com/lifewithnat/view INSTA: @natcass1 We're also on Facebook now too: https://www.facebook.com/lifewithnatpod A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: [e-mail] SHOW INFO: Life with Nat - it’s me! Natalie Cassidy and I’ll be chatting away to family, friends and most importantly YOU. I want to pick people's brains on the subjects that I care about- whether that’s where all the odd socks go, weight and food or kids on phones. Each week I will be letting you into my life as i chat about my week, share my thoughts on the mundane happenings as well as the serious. I have grown up in the public eye and have never changed because of it. Life with Nat is the podcast for proper people. Come join the community. ♥️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get groceries delivered across the GTA from Real Canadian Superstore with PC Express. Shop online for super prices and super savings. Try it today and get up to $75 in PC Optimum Points. Visit Superstore.ca to get started. At last we're together I can't believe it I can't believe it I said to myself I'm going to start

as Sonia and for a little bit maybe no one will really know which one to which you know what I mean I think that's a really really good idea we should just do that

all the way through should we do the whole thing like Sonia I think people will have a heart attack literally they're going to lose it aren't they

are you going to show me up though that's the problem because next year you know it's not the same it's not the same. It's so good. It must be weird. Is it weird?

It's the biggest honour, and I've said it before, I say it all the time, but I'm sure you do know what impact it's had, but the impact it's had on me. People just shout at me in the street, you know. Just doing this now? Yeah. See, they don't shout at me in the street you know just doing this now yeah see they don't shout at me isn't that amazing you deserve it you deserve it you know also because i never look like me either i think i get away with it because i'm rarely not in a wig or glasses or some stupid teeth or something it's amazing i want to ask you because I need to. Yeah. There's so many people in the world and I know you do amazing impressions of others, but I have to ask

you, why did you pick me? How did you pick me? What was the thought process behind it? Such a good question. Such a good question. Firstly, this might sound I'm not I'm not an impressionist it was never my dream and I did the Morgana show which was really odd and look there's a there's a sort of cult following it's I always say it's like goths gays and guitarists right they're my main food group I love them very much but you, you know, for the general public, I think it was like, what is this weird stuff? By the way,

are we allowed to swear? Because I'm such a swear... You can say what the fuck you like. Oi! Okay, because I'm a sweary Mary, but I thought I'd better, you know, better check.

So, yeah, so it was really odd and I think the average person was just like, what the fuck is this crap? And then it didn't get recommissioned. Then there was this sort of, this new impressionist in town called terry minor is amazing i don't know whether you saw his show the mimic anyway he was this new kid on the block and on the block

god i sound like i'm 90 okay and um and they were like well you know we're not going to recommission the morgana show but there is this guy and, you know, they're looking for is sort of, I guess, like a sidekick, you know, and looking for a female. Can you do impressions? And I was like, no. Well, I was like, well, I did Fern, didn't I? I did Fern Cotton.

Please do Fern for me. Oh, you know, I haven't done them for years. Brilliant, wicked, wicked rock and roll. Amazing. Radio Uno. Yeah, something like that. God god it's still in there somewhere it's muscle memory because you also you also look like fan a little well that is exactly mate why i did it i was like oh i can probably get away with that and then the x factor was doing it was like at it's height so I ended up doing

like a Cheryl Cole and a Danny Minogue thing but it was a real one second I need to blow my nose I've got

I've got a cold where's the end of you need to sound like you've got a cold if you're going to be me yeah well I block it off that's what I do

I just block it off there it's I just don't go there I just keep it right up here. Yeah. Anyway, we'll get in there. Yeah. Go on. I've forgotten what your question was because I've been n We'll find someone else if you're okay. So I basically learned, I think it was something like 35 impressions in a year. And they were like, they wanted me to do the normal ones. And obviously, because I was like, well, I don't want to do the normal ones. I was like, I want to do, I want to do Sonia off EastEnders. Well, no, we think we should, you know, you should do Miley Cyrus.

No, but no, but I want to do Sonia. Why? Because she's a fucking legend. Do you know what I mean? And it was a bit of a fight. Really? Yeah. Yeah, people are snobby, aren't they?

Yeah, they are. And also, not even necessarily snobby it was like they wanted these you know the sort of i think the obvious ones and i was like but this is this is this is the this is the queen i know i can feel it in my waters do you know what i mean so then but it ended up being the star of the show now you say sonia from eastenders but obviously you weren't allowed to say sonia from eastEnders I would imagine did someone tell you that because I would imagine EastEnders being like oh we can't have Sonia from EastEnders no one ever complained but you did Natalie Cassidy didn't you well yeah so we said but

it was all at once it was all in one so you'd go um oh god I can't I'm gonna try and remember it now so it's like all right I'm Natalie Cassidy. I used to be Sandra off EastEnders. So it was like a sort of, that's how we got away with it, I guess. But no one ever complained. I don't know, I mean, the lawyers, you don't even talk to them. They just skim through everything.

No, no. So I don't know whether, I still remember a few. Do you want a few? My favourite, could you do my favourite? Which is just in the loft, sorting out the pens oh god

that was a heartbreaker we ended the series with that one it was it was really heartbreaking okay so I can't remember all of it

and I was trying to dig out the old bloody scripts because this is why you should keep all your scripts do you know what I mean but I was trying to

find them on email but my email's changed now but it was something like wasn't it and oh I'm just sticking loads of old handbags up in the loft. Oh, look at this one. Oh, I wore this to the NTAs.

I paired it with that yellow dress. It was the year that Judy Finnegan's tits fell out, went to the box, came back, missed it. Everyone was crying, laughing. Story of my life. Oh, it's funny, isn't it? Putting things away. Like, you know, like old memories. Like old handbags in the loft.

It's there and then it's not there. I can't remember, but it was beautiful. And then, like, people were in tears. Yeah. At the time of you doing that, I was actually not in EastEnders obviously and going through a bit of a rough time yeah I was in a bit of a rough period where I was I think I'd done Big Brother and you know I didn't know what I was doing and and it really made me smile and I think a lot of people said well it could have gone either way you could have been really pissed off with this, you know.

And actually, it gave me a new lease of life because I had this kind of following of all of these people who absolutely love the impression. So whenever now I'm in the road, wherever I am, and I just do a, people love it. I bet you hang out the window. Do they see you and they go, oh, God. I mean, you must make their day. You are, you're the nation's sweetheart. Do you know what I mean? You are, you have become that.

That's very kind of you. We were actually talking earlier and I have to take compliments because we're shit at taking compliments, aren't we? We go, oh, no, but thank you. That's very kind. Natalie Cassidy OBE. It sounds good good doesn't it It definitely does

Oh it could happen I could go in my yellow dress Do you know what I mean Pair it with that You have to dust off that airbag I'd have to get up in that loft Wouldn't I Okay so my favourites

I remember like The one Well I'm Natalie Cassidy I have to do the whole thing Otherwise I can't remember it No don't Please Alright I'm Natalie Cassidy I used have to do the whole thing otherwise I can't remember it. No, don't. Please.

All right. I'm Natalie Cassidy. I used to be Sandra off EastEnders. Just changing me room around for what I try to bed up against the wall this time. What do they call it? Feng Shui?

And then I'd do the voiceover. Next week on Natalie Cassidy is doing this now. Dad! The wasps are back! So me and my boyfriend, we still do a version of that whenever we hear something weird in the house so you know you're like you're like oh what was that and we said the eels are back you also did and my fiancé, can't get over it.

He actually remembers where we were when he put it on. I can't remember. We've spoken about it in a pod before. But you did a half an hour special of me and my dad. Yeah. How did you know so much? It was a bit weird, babe, because I lived with my dad. And it was just very odd because it was very similar to my life oh well so the thing about because I'm not an impressionist I do get obsessed

with people and I did get a bit obsessed with you and um I do a lot of research and I love this show that you did called Becoming Mum. And there's a scene in there. And I know that you've lost your dear dad. I have. And I remember I reached out to you. I think that's maybe when we first started chatting on Instagram. I think it was, yeah. And I really felt for you because I know how close you were.

And I know you've lost your mum. God, I'm sorry. We shouldn't go there. No, that's all right. Not get a bit watery eyed. But there's, and if I'm don't, if I remember right, I got that eye roll from there

because he was trying on a tie for something and you were picking up and you were like, no, that one. He's like, I don't want to wear that one. And you were like, no, that one. And then you looked at camera and you went. And I was like, I'm having that. That's like I don't want to wear that one and you were like no that one and then you looked at camera and you went and I was like I'm having that that's that that's the beauty right there I just love the show thing about you is that you're very authentic and I think it's I would say I think I would say it was it's rare isn't it but being that is because it's hard being yourself in

you know if you're you know in the limelight and you're, you feel very exposed. It's like going out there without a bra. I think you're right. And I think if you're willing to go out there without a bra, you are, so to speak. I don't think I've ever really thought about it because I was 10 when I joined EastEnders. Bloody hell. So I was 10, so I can't really remember not being recognised. And I sort of have always just been myself wherever I go.

I think it's harder. People say, oh, child star, could have gone off the rails, da-da-da-da-da. I think it's harder being 16, 17, 18 and really wanting it and being hungry for it and then getting it because you kind of then want to carve it out maybe. I didn't have time to think about it. I was just in it. That was it. Well, I just think some people have the sort of mental strength to just get

through it because it's hard any any any any age i mean but you could have you could have been a smack head and you're not the title of my new book thank you could have been a smack head but i'm not but you know it's um you know yeah it's a weird question but like do you if you had your time again would you have waited till you were older to get in the business or do you you just that's the way it was and it worked out for me I I love looking back and I'm I haven't got a regret about any of it not not career wise I just think brilliant even down to it it's just a it's just the way I am people say oh you did Big Brother would you change that no I wouldn't I got a shitload of money I was stood there I washed up I got in a bath full of blue dye I walked for a

bit of treacle when I came home ka-ching but it's true yeah and I we, whoever you are, whatever human being, succeeding is different for everybody. But I come from a very working class family and my mum and dad worked really hard, but they were quite materialistic. My mum used to be in her diamonds and the house would be immaculate and decorated. So I always want that. So if I have to go into Big Brother to continue

the lifestyle I want I will people say will you ever go in the jungle of course I fucking will at some point it'd be diamonds it'd be bloody diamonds well how old was you when you when you bought your first diamonds I haven't bought myself any diamonds because I've got all my mum's fortunately oh I know I, swings and roundabouts. Swingies and roundies, isn't it? I'm not materialistic in that way, really. I'm more, I love buying people things. I can't help it.

I do love buying a present. Are you a good present buyer? Do you smash it? Yeah. I bloody smash it. It's my mum's birthday today. Oh, happy birthday. what's your mum's name Cher

as if she's going to listen happy birthday are you joking she was on loop for about a week oh happy birthday yeah hope you have a wonderful day

are you seeing her today seeing her later yes I am I'm off literally off I'm off as soon as as I do this I'm going to off

and see her for lunch yeah late lunch oh nice boozy lunch. Yeah, do you know what I mean? Couple of sherries, yeah. Can I ask you about Taskmaster or is that really boring? Not at all. Go for it.

What do you want to know? Well, I'm desperate to do it. I'm stalking producers. They would love you to do it well i'm stalking them at the moment i've emailed them 15 times and i found them and run up to them at award ceremony and said i've done my task tonight because i found you so they might be a bit scared of me but what was it like what if we did it together in character we've got two of us we nearly did it didn't we we were so close bloody covid bloody covid so well we can't i don't want to give the game away what what our idea was because i think

we can still do it at some point agreed there'll be a there'll be a little gap in both our boss names and we'll do it because i i'm not i'm not putting i'm not ready to put that to bed yet. No, agreed. But all anyone needs to know is that we had a brilliant idea for us both to go on 8 Out of 10 Cats, wasn't it? Yeah. But it was COVID, so they were like, well, yeah, you can do it, but you're going to have to sit a metre apart from each other. We were like, no, absolutely not. Got to be literally like twins sat right on top of each other.

So the time will come. Anyway, so sorry, Tarskies. Let me speak to Alex. Please, could you just have a go? If you do that, well, I don't know what I'll do. Have a touch up to him and just say she's absolutely desperate. I will do. Desperate.

She's pissing her pants. I am pissing my pants all the time. Because of Taskmaster, I'm not incontinent. Did you love it? What was it like to be there? I did absolutely love it. Yeah. It's so silly.

There's a little take where I'm doing one of the silliest things. I'm sort of like sliding along the floor on these red and black discs and I'm laughing and Greg's like, oh, look at her laughing, cackling away because she's ahead of everyone. I was like, I was not. I was cackling away because I was like,

I cannot believe this is how I pay my rent. The silliest. And also, you know how hard you work on like characters and you learn your lines, take it really seriously. And it's all quite stressful. And it's long hours and you learn your lines take it really seriously and it's all quite stressful and it's long hours and you get not always get paid that well and and auditions it's all slog slog slog and then basically you go on and the shitter you are worse than prepared you are for this show the better it's gonna be yeah I mean it doesn't make any sense and you know what

you know you said your jung it was it was kind of my jungle moment because it was the first time I'd ever had the the guts to go on something as me I guess so I felt a little bit naked but also it to my surprise it was, it went down really well. It certainly did. It's right up my rue, that kind of like how to think about something differently, some odd way of doing something that no one else will do. You know, it's niche. Oh, it's marvellous. It's marvellous.

And what are you doing at the moment? Have you got any plans for the new year that you can tell us about? Like what's in the box? Oh, I know. Isn't it shit? Like you've got the moment? Have you got any plans for the new year that you can tell us about? What's in the box? Oh, I know. Isn't it shit? You've got the best stuff and you can't tell me. I'm the same. I've got two things.

I'm so desperate to tell you. No, that's all right. But two things for us to look forward to, right? Yeah. One is it. Oh, I don't know. Can I say that? I'm going to say it.

I'm going to say it. I'm fucking saying it. Doing a Christmas movie. That's it. Can't say anything else. And then I'm doing a movie in bloody Hollywood. Holy woo woo. Oh, bloody bollocks.

Yeah, bloody. And it's iconic. You're going to die. Am I? I mean, I don't know if it's going to be any good. I don't know. You know, like you always say, oh, I'm going to be terrible. It's a lot of pressure. And I can't. if it's going to be any good. I don't know. You know, like you always say, oh, I'm going to be terrible. It's a lot of pressure and I can't, and it's mental.

It's a bit tight. Oh, it's amazing. Have you been to LA? I went, yeah, on holiday. I think I did the holiday programme, actually. What's the holiday programme? Do you remember? It was on BBC, seven o'clock at night, holiday show.

And they used to have guest presenters no I don't remember again you're young yeah I'm 41 in fact I'm 42 and your birthday

is May the 7th which is my brother's birthday and I am May the 13th so we are both Taurians Taurians mate of course

we fucking are oh my god Sonia from EastEnders is a taurean yeah that's what it is it's that um i am double taurean how did you get my moon because my moon was in taurus when i was born as well i'm like so far screwed into the ground i'm so grounded god that is so it see i'm i think I'm Scorpio Which makes a lot of sense Yeah I know I'm not a Scorpio

Is he just I've had a Scorpio boyfriend You ready Mine's alright Not your typical Is he Have you got a good one Yeah he's great

Yeah no he's brilliant Does he make the bed When he gets out of it Sometimes He's very handy I've got Is he handy around the house Very handy around the house He's not Yeah's very handy I've got is he handy around the house very handy

around the house he's not yeah very very handy sexy isn't it that it's my love language I think is it

is it mine's cooking so is he he looks good with like a drill in his hand he knows he knows what to do

with a hammer he's building a garden railway as we speak Morgana oh piss off yeah how many he's into steam engines he's building a um garden railway as we speak morgana oh piss off yeah how many steam engines he's into steam engines so he's a sexy geek oh my god he's a sexy geek can we have dinner can we all go out for dinner or in for dinner i would really like that wherever it will happen bring me boys over i feel like that you will you mean what you say i hope i really do come over i cook a lovely

dinner i bet you bloody what do you fancy do you want a nice lamb shank okay so this is the problem are you vegan yeah vegan no i eat fish oh fine pesky yeah i'm a pesky we can sort that out no problem oh my god amazing i'd love that that would be brilliant um i've got to tell you this other thing you're gonna die yeah go on um guess who is a massive fan of sonia from eastenders and the impression obviously i don't know have you heard of someone called Kate Moss? Stop, shut the front door Oh no I won't

You shut the front door, I had the back door Kate Moss? Kate, I have to Voice notes for Kate Moss Sent it to her, she doesn't want to talk to Morgz I literally have to make Stories up I make stories up like they're mates.

So like, oh God, mate, I've got a terrible hangover. God, focus, Shelley's not done it. I've seen, she's always, Sonja's always trying to get her together with Dee Gaffney because she's seen her in your egg chair snogging each other's faces off. Eh, it's off for your number. Can't believe you ate a whole trifle

on your own, you nutter. Eh, don't worry about clogging up the toilet. Happens to the best of us. Gaffley's come over and sorted it, so no harm done. She loves it.

Absolutely loves it. This is big news. This is big news. I should leave a voice note for Kate with you. We should do a conversation or something for her and we could we can set it up let's do it at dinner let's do it we're doing a dinner okay we will that's

brilliant absolutely isn't it it's not amazing so you're doing a christmas movie that we can't talk about but so you love christmas you bought some presents are you a christmas freak like me or i'm a christmas freak like i'm not religious but I'm like in for a penny in for a pound like tree music oh god I love what do you okay so I'll have a blini to start with a little smoked salmon and you know caviar not the stuff just the jar stuff you know I go to Selfridges and get caviar do you yes i fucking do i never have it at home christmas i want caviar you want the best for me it's a theater of it it's the onion it's the egg it's the sour cream it's do you do deviled eggs no so okay so blini's champagne and i'll the champagne is coming out half 11 no fucking problem do you know what i mean yeah like let's not piss about we're not here to fuck spiders do you know

what i mean i mean half 11 is quite late i have to say but mind you you've got kids so you'll be up at six won't you oh i'm up early i like to come downstairs. I light my candle, early doors, in the dark. My Sir A. Truden candle goes on. I'm probably saying it wrong. Which flavour? It's the one that smells of the Roman church. Ernesto? Yeah.

Stop it. We're the same person. It's just the best smell in the world. Isn't it the sexiest? It's like a sexy bloke it's a sexy man from the 50s who lives in a library yeah it's a library it's nostalgia it's somewhere i haven't been before but where i should have been yeah don draper just draped in tinsel that's what it smells like so that goes on okay so you've lit your candle.

I usually then have a coffee with Baileys in it. Oh, you filthy cow. Yeah. I love a boozy coffee or a boozy choccy. Tia Maria. Hang on. Wait, wait, wait there. Wait there, because this is getting spooky.

Oh, shit. Have you had? Are you aware of? and do you like the cherry chocolate liqueurs from Marks and Spencer's I don't know look I don't know about fruit-based liqueurs you need to go to M&S and get yourself a packet do right now on the way maybe or after mum's lunch it's okay you need to go to M&S and get yourself a packet. Do I now? On the way, maybe, or after mum's lunch. Okay. You need to get a packet. They're not expensive. They're the best boozy chocolate you'll ever have.

But with fruit? It's got a cherry in it. Why? What's wrong? An actual cherry? Just a little, yeah. It's not got a lot in it. A little bit of cherry in it, yeah.

What's the problem? I think there's my i just don't like i've just fruit and like booze no chocolate and booze yes coffee and booze yes most fruits made from booze or potatoes don't get clever with me or rice rice. Or carbs. Rice, barley. I'm out. I'm out now. Hops. Is that a fruit? It's a fruit, isn't it? Hops?

Not sure. Is hops a fruit? Yeah. Emma, it's hop a fruit. Emma? It's hop a fruit? I think it's a plant. It's definitely a plant.

Oh, yes, it is. It's in fields. Shit. Yeah. Hops and barley, isn't it? I don't know. Barley's a plant. Potato's definitely a plant. Oh, yes, it is. It's in fields. Shit. Yeah. Some barley, isn't it? I don't know. Barley's a plant. Potatoes, vodka's a plant, but not a fruit.

No. Fine. Apples, obviously. Vineyards, wine. Grapes. Cider. Cider. Sorry.

Apples for cider. Cognac. What's cognac? Is that apples? Isn't it? Brandy? I think so. Oh, shit. No.

Oh, no, I think so. I'm not a brandy drinker. Normandy. No, me neither. It's not for me. No. Do you like it? I like a nice bourbon. I'm not really. I don't think I've had much bourbon. I love a smoky, a proper smoky whiskey.

I'm eating a piece of wood. Do you love a tequila? Love a tequila. I like a honey, of wood. Do you love a tequila? Love a tequila. I like a honey, honey tequila. Oh, oh yeah.

Lovely. So, I mean, I call them margaritas. That's how many I drink. Do you like a Negroni? And the grown up, I call them.

They're just a little bit too bitter for me. Fair enough. I'm a sour, I'm a sour old bitch. Yeah, I'm not, I'm not massive on the bitter. Okay,

so come on, let's rewind. So, you've cut, you've had, you so come on let's rewind so you've cut you've had you've like you've lit new littern you've lit you your truden candle yes bailey's coffee in hand boozy coffee yeah then what happens i'm still in pajamas of course christmas pajamas slippers Of course. Christmas pyjamas. Slippers. No, barefoot. You nutter. On Christmas Day. On any day. I like socks or bare feet.

I prefer a bare foot. My house seems to be a little bit warmer, judging from your visuals. Why have you got a scarf on indoors? Fucking, it's cold as a witch's tit. Put your radiator on. You're doing well. I've been out all morning. I've been out all morning, it's your voice overcoming, I'm not going to have a nightclub.

Don't take it off if you're cold, but I'm just saying, the girl's doing well, she's going to Hollywood, she can't even put the radiator on. So I'm old school, I'm old fashioned, do you know what I mean? There's part of me that's a bit like, oh, come on, pop on, get a hot bot on, get a cashmere on, moth-eater number, do you know what I mean? I'm a bit like, oh, come on, pop on, get a hot bot on, get a cashmere on, moth-eater number. Do you know what I mean? I'm a bit like that. There's part of me that's like that.

So I'm a bit like, oh, come on, you'll be bloody fine. Come on, what's wrong with you? Man up. I'd love to be like that, but I want to be in my home and I want to wear what I want, when I want. And I want it to be exactly the same temperature all year round. Do you? Yes, I all year round. Do you? Yes, I do, yeah. Do you have underfloor heating? No.

Okay, so I think this just boils down to the fact that I've got shit circulation. Do you not have ice blocks for feet? I do. When I get into bed, I do. Depends on time of the month, but I can be a fucking ice block. You're right.

Mark says, get off me. me get off don't touch me I squeeze my foot between his thighs it's the only reason we have boyfriends to warm us up isn't it massive hot water bottles yeah okay so basically okay pajamas no slippers you're a, and then what happens? Kids are up. We do a few stocking bits and pieces. We're very, very good. I wasn't like this as a kid. We'd just fucking rip everything open by seven.

It was all done. But we are really, really good throughout the day. We will do a few things throughout the day, which I really love. And I always leave my presence to the end of the day. It's not a race, it's a marathon. I've done two. Have you? Can you?

I can't run. I can't run. I can run for a bus and that's about it. I can't run. I did it very slowly. Five and a half hours. Can't run a bath. Are you serious?

And did you stop? I didn't stop once. Did you shit yourself? I didn't shit myself. Because that's quite common, isn't it? Yeah. No, it can be. No, I didn't shit myself.

And here's a fun fact. I didn't stop for the toilet at all. And I didn't piss myself either. Horse like a bladder. I mean, to be honest honest all the liquids are going to be sweared out do you know it's just like a really bad hangover you're not going to have you don't need to pee for like 48 hours do you when you're hungover you're like oh god it's that treacle do you pee a lot i find i genuinely find that piss like a horse what all the time are you having a piss twice at night without the night it's a fucking nightmare are you drinking though a lot during the day you're drinking yeah yeah i like my liquids i'm an alcoholic no i i like i like all alcohol and

i like all water all flavors of water i'm the same i'm the same but I can hold myself for a good eight hours I can go all day long and think shit I only went this morning I can go all day without a wee you're serious yeah you should go to the moon shouldn't you I could couldn't I yeah yeah won't be long we'll all be going up there let Let's go together. That's a show. Let's go pitch it. That's a great, great show. Pitch it to Netflix. Sonia and Sonia go off to the moon. Double Sonia space exploration.

Bouncing about. That's it. I'd watch it. We'd be the only fucking ones. Yeah. So, yeah. pyjamas lots of presents I do the dinner

I love doing the dinner I love cooking the turkey preparing all my potatoes clementine glazed carrots honey roasted parsnips brussels with bacon

stuffing Jamie Oliver style I do my gravy before chicken wings in there it's gorgeous Jamie Oliver again I watch all the shows before chicken wings in there. It's gorgeous. Jamie Oliver again. I watch all the shows. I want Carols at King's on, on Christmas Eve. You know, I'm just in for

all of it and it's in my heart. Mate, I can see it. I can see it in your eyes. I love it so much. Okay. What do you do with your leftover turkey? Because I did a Jamie Oliver one and it's fucking brilliant pie oh because by the way i'm not i'm not vegan on christmas day what the fuck i like perfect yeah christmas and birthdays brilliant whatever whatever comes my way cake meat i'll have it unboxing day yeah so i used to do this thing with the turkey so you know the brown meat that's left over so you get thighs or, yeah, it's the juiciest bit. Yeah. So he whacks it in a pan

with like Chinese five spice and garlic and soy and honey, crisps it up and has it like Chinese pancakes. My mouth's watering. Like duck. That's really lovely. Do you know what I really love? What?

Crispy duck and watermelon salad with a few nuts thrown on the side fuck's sake delicious well it's that vibe isn't it because he does pomegranates over it and stuff that's good it's a bloody it's an absolute belter that's great i do we just use ours because i have christmas day i'll do a big turkey but we're gonna have a goose as well this year my brother's doing a goose so there'll'll do a big turkey, but we're going to have a goose as well this year. My brother's doing a goose. So there'll be a lot of turkey left, but then Mark's family are coming over. So that will be buffet. I'll do sandwiches with that.

It'll be used. It'll be used. I'm starving now. Well, you're going to lunch soon. Do you ever do a curry? I haven't ever done a turkey curry, but Mark's good at a curry, so he could do that this year.

Maybe he can use a turkey for that. It's exciting now, isn't it? It's really good. It's really good. Do you spoil the brats? Do you spoil them rotten? Or are you a bit like, no, that's enough presents?

Or are you soft? I don't buy my kids presents throughout the year for no reason. So I buy things that they need. If they need something, I will get it for them. It's very rare that I'll just frivolously go into a shop and just go, oh, you can have a toy. I don't do that.

But birthdays and Christmas, spoil them rotten. Yeah, lovely. Yeah. Yeah, I spoil everyone I love i love i'm terrible it's good though isn't it isn't it lovely yeah just spoil people and look after people and because we can and we're so lucky to be able to we're so lucky no we're so lucky aren't we lucky we're so so lucky i mean at this moment in time i I think you're luckier than me, just because I know the projects you've got coming up.

But, yeah, I'm still lucky. What have you got coming up? Are you still... You're on the square. Have you got the Duff Duffer for Christmas? Are you allowed to say? You're probably not allowed to say. No, I'm not allowed to say, fuck all, but I've got a lot coming up. Could you do your Danny Dyer?

I loved your Danny Dyer please oh no don't because I oh fucking hell because yeah no I'm all a bit hungover I can't really know

it's all like a bit naughty and it'd be like oh yeah do you know what I mean something like that god I can't remember straight what was it Britain's Hardest Camote

some cunt's dummy legging with a satchel i've had it i've ended up someplace called dick hot parkway or something let's get out doing my nothing that's it wasn't it so good though it's so good it was funny because uh it's unusual for women to do male impressions. But yeah, but you know what? It was hard getting out of impressions because I reckon you'll probably feel that. So, you know, when you said you had that time where you didn't work, I reckon because it must be so hard being in something like EastEnders. And then because they know you as that, they stick you in a box.

I think that's changing. Do you feel like as I don't know I feel as time goes on I think that mentality has changed and I think people can see people in many many different things now from radio to M&S adverts to acting to you know you see everyone everywhere and you go oh well I can only speak for myself, really. And I found it very, very hard. When I was like, I realised that I wasn't being seen for anything else, just impressions and like casting directors wouldn't see me and all that kind of thing. And I just had to make this sort of pact with myself.

I was like, I'm not going to do any more impressions. And the phone didn't ring for like two years, mate. Wow. And I sat there and I was like, and I just plugged away. I was like, I just held on and I manifested it. I bloody did, I manifested it. And then slowly, slowly, I sort of crept out of this sort of trough. But it was tough times, really tough times.

I've had a really terrible thought oh go on what i wonder if the impression of me that you fought so hard to do nearly ruined your career no it's definitely was one of the highlights okay fine i think it was impressions in a in a impressions in a... Impressions in... The general sense of it. The umbrella. Yeah, because you're not an actor. You know, you're a comedian.

You're not an actor. You could be a comedy actress, maybe. But I think an impressionist is different, I think. You're just a mimic, do you know what I mean? But you've done some wonderful parts. You've done some brilliant stuff, haven't you? Loads and loads and loads of stuff. Yeah, and I'm lucky.

It's great. There's a lot of variety these days. It's so nice. So if you were to leave EastEnders and you could have your dream career, where would you go? What do you want to do if you ever do leave? Don't leave. Don't ever leave.

I love comedy. Yes. So I would love to do... Motherland, you were amazing. Thank you. You were amazing. Thank you. As a teacher, oh, I loved it.

Thank you. It was so nice seeing you pop up. You just need to pop up more often. I need to. If I wasn't at EastEnders, I probably would have to do what you've just explained. And you are right. It is tough.

But I think you do have to disappear for a bit and maybe change a bit. Dye my hair. Have a little change. Shave your head off. Chop my head off. Chop it off as early. I'm just a torso now.

But yes, comedy I love. I love comedy. So for me, I would love to do, they don't really make them anymore, but studio sitcom comedy. Or I'd love to be on, you know, a panel show, but every week, you know, Captain. Okay, so the host, yes.

Captain, Captain. You'd be excellent. What about, haven't I got news for you? Yeah, I'd love to do that. It'd be great. Never mind the buzzcocks. That would be good. Yeah, that'd be good.

Have you done it? I was on there once, years and years ago, with Andy, I think, from the Smiths, which was pretty cool. Oh, nice. Yeah. Very cool. I would love to do more comedy. And I also, I do love podcasting.

I know everyone's doing it. But it's at home. I'm at home. I can be with the children. I can have a nice chat to people. This is going really well. So who knows? Who knows?

But I would love to show people the other acting that I could do, because I know that I could do so much more. That's the thing, isn't it? And it's just getting those opportunities, getting people to give you those opportunities. Yeah, you'll always, you know, we love you so much. You're the best. Well, I think you're the best. You deserve to have a very long, very long and successful career. Interesting you say that, because I think now when I'm 40 I'm 41

I'm moving into a new chapter I mean I I think I might do really amazing work 50 60 I might be an older character actress you know what I mean that's what I look I'm literally with you you know because the thing is like they I remember remember watching a thing that Jodie Foster said last week. There's a clip of her and she was like, it's interesting because, you know, you're in your prime and you're everywhere. And then 50s hit, then no one really knows what to do with you. And she's like, I've never been happier than I'm now. I'm in my 60s. I'm getting these incredible roles that I was never offered before.

And I think women now is slowly changing. Like men have always been able to do that and get ugly and, you know, get lines on their faces. Like a fine wine. Yeah, all that fuck. All of that shit. Exactly, all that shit. But now I think those doors are opening for us a bit more. So here's to us

being old let's have a show when we're 60 still doing this now let's just do this now I mind you still doing this now you say that

60's not old I reckon 80 that comes out still doing this now oh dear oh that it

oh where are we oh bloody hell I don't know where are we? Bloody hell, right? I don't know. Where are you? Oh. Who are you?

Thank you so much for coming on today. Absolute pleasure. Absolute pleasure. Honestly, love you. I hope you have the best lunch. I hope you have the best lunch with your mum. I hope she has a wonderful birthday What will you eat

Where are you going Just quickly What are you going to eat We're going to the pig's ear I don't know yet What do you fancy Anything Or you just don't know yet

Well I'll have a glass of champagne Or two Or three And I don't know Probably a nice bit of fish Fantastic Nice bit of fish Some chippies

Lovely Are you a dessert person So I love a dessert I love a I don't know probably a nice bit of fish fantastic nice bit of fish some chippies lovely are you a dessert person? so I love a dessert I love a I'm a tiramisu girl I love a sticky toff I'm not a sticky toff but my sister-in-law

makes the best tiramisu she's from Naples it is the fucking best oh my god because you guys are all that's your that's your heritage isn't it you're all

aren't you all Italian? I've got Italian way way back, but my brother married an Italian girl. Oh, you lucky bastard. Yeah, I mean, the lasagna I had Saturday is just out of this world. You wouldn't believe it. Really good.

My mouth's watering now. Okay, can we do dinner? We can do dinner. I'll send you my number because we're only on Insta, so I'll put it on. Oh, come on, sort it out. Come on, we've got to be on the text. Sort out a group with Kate. Oh, by God. Kate.

Get us in a group chat. Darn. Dusted. Have a lovely lunch. And have a brilliant Christmas. And lots of love. Have a lovely Christmas. Have a great Christmas.

Happy Christmas, darling. All the luck in the world for next year. I can't wait to see what you do and what you're doing. Thank you so much. Lots of love. Bye. Hi, this is Chris McCausland. And this is Diane Buswell.

And we've got a new podcast, haven't we, Di? We do. What's it called? Winning. Isn't. Everything. Every week, me and Diane, we're going to be having a little catch up on the back here strictly,

aren't we we Di? We are I've missed you Chris I've missed you too We're going to talk some nonsense So why not tune in Available everywhere you get your podcasts