Off The Telly - EastEnders Live Debrief with Kellie Bright

Episode Date: February 26, 2025

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly. Nat has a big debrief with Jo about EastEnders live and what it was really like to film, and the pair speak to Lacey Turner and Kellie Bright.What they can’t stop watching, what they definitely aren’t going to bother with, new releases and comforting classics – TV is timeless and no telly is out of bounds. As well as having a natter about what’s on TV, they share backstage goss from the world of telly, whilst also cracking up about the more humbling moments in their lives. Self-confessed TV addicts and stars of two of the biggest shows on our screens, EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, Natalie and Joanna are the perfect companions to see what’s occurring on and off the telly.Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. Please remember to subscribe to Off the Telly on BBC Sounds and make sure push notifications are turned on in your phone settings so you're up to date with all episodes of the pod. Welcome to our second Off the Telly EastEnders special celebrating the 40th anniversary. Hello! Hi, congratulations! Oh, thanks Jo. Oh my god, it's mad seeing you on the other side.

You were incredible. Oh my god, it was all absolutely amazing. The week leading up to it, oh my god, the episode, which was the night before the live and then the live as well. It was incredible and you were incredible. And can I just say, I am so glad that Reese is dead. Yes. What an arsehole. It was one of the real comedy moment, wasn't it? Which is...

Oh my god, I was so... Well, when first of all, when Bianca pushes him and then he falls down and the thing goes, then he goes, oh, that was close. And then it was like boom. And I was like, thank God for that. I know. Throughout the whole of rehearsals, because we filmed the bath stuff in November. Oh my god. November, December. Oh my god. Right. Okay. Okay. So you've got to try and do now. But you look exactly the same. Right. So you've got to get and do now. But you look exactly the same. Right, so you've got to get your head around the fact that the first three of last week were filmed before Christmas and then obviously the live episode was Thursday.

And it just literally picks up from there. Yeah, so everyone's continuity. Oh my god, but you look exactly the same. Everyone's hair, you'll notice that I've had no nails on because I can't because everything had to be. I'm only just kind of putting that together in my head. Yeah. Because you literally you're in that green like flowery dress and your hair looks exactly

the same. You look exactly the same. Yes. Oh my god. So we all had to keep exactly the same. You all look exactly the same. It was literally as if it was just just carrying on. I know.

Oh my God. Our director Lance, Lance Neeshaar, he wanted for everyone to watch the three episodes and watch the fourth as if it was exactly the same. Well it was, it was. And that's what he achieved. Well it was, it completely was. Yeah. Because it's really quite freaky now thinking about, you know, that and then the bath falls on you. And the amount of time that's passed. Yeah because it's like it's well it just

for me it just continues. So when we came back and we started rehearsing it in February we just kept going you alright under there Reese? Obviously Reese Colwell is dead under the bath but when we came back in Feb my friend Johnny Freeman hasn't got to be under the bath because we didn't see him but obviously we kept saying we must remember that Reese is under the bath. We've got to remember what's just happened. Oh my god, yeah. Well, how did you find all of it? How was it? The whole week felt like we were in a little bubble doing kind of a play. And then to,

because obviously you're learning your lines, you can muck it up, you know, you get very used to I think as an actor and I'm sure you will agree that as much as you're on it, you know if you make a mistake, you're going to pick it up. Yeah. And I think the medium of theatre, if you make a mistake, people are only watching it once in the audience. So the thought of being able to make a mistake, live on telly and it being recorded forever is what's petrifying.

Yeah. Because you're mixing two genres. Yeah. Which is just, yeah, it blows my mind. Yeah. What was it like? So, you know, when before, literally before the music started, because I was on my way back to Wales with the kids to stay with my parents, because, yeah, stay with them, because

the kids were on half term. Yeah. And we got in, it was about like five past seven, and I just got in one time, and my dad, oh my God, oh my God, right, it's nearly started, I'm like, don't worry, I've got it on record, it's fine, you know, it's not starting till half seven. So it's like, okay, so I got everybody in,

got the kids settled, and then at 25 past seven, I went hysterical and started going, get down, everybody, everybody sit down, everybody sit down, it's about to start. And then when the music started, I started going, get down everybody, everybody sit down, everybody sit down, it's about to start. And then when the music started, I started crying because I just got really emotional thinking about you. And I was like, and then it started and I just talked over the beginning bit because I just kept going, it's live, mum she's doing this live, she's there now, she's there now. Because I was so overwhelmed by it. How did you feel when the music was going and like, did they count you in?

What did they do? Yeah, no, they lovely Emma Perry counted us in. We had a great AD, first AD. We had a lovely team, Joe, Alfie, Matt, I want to mention them all. We had such a great, great team in our little studio. And yeah, you could see a monitor and you could hear the music. It was like we're coming live, we're live now. Oh my gosh! Into credits, we're rolling on scene one. And then it's like 55 seconds to you. And because of what I was doing, I really wanted to make sure the one nightmare I had in my

mind was them cutting and me not screaming. Yes. So, you know, for me to be paused and then come into a screen. Oh, yes, yes. So I was starting quite early on with my labour pains and stuff, so you know, to get moving. So when they cut in, it looked like I'd been doing that for a while. But I think I had quite an easy job of it there because as much as it was difficult, I could channel all the nerves into the fact that I was shaking, screaming, crying.

God, when you were lying on your side and your bottom lip was going, oh my God, it was so good. It was so good. And my mother was like, come on, come on, come with the baby and everything. She was going, come on Sonia, get up, get up. It was one of my favourite bits because it was the fact that she'd given birth and was tired. But when Bianca shouted Sonia, she snapped back into the fact that she knew what was going on, but still didn't want to get up because she didn't want his baby. But then she made the snap decision, obviously, to get up and be with the baby. Because you know, like watching the whole build up to it and then all through the week and then the night before when he comes in and you just

watch it and you just go, oh my God, he's coming and he's going towards her and he's still talking and he's still in his own delusional world. And it's awful because she's having his baby and she doesn't want it and then having, you know, for her reality in that moment that she's literally got to give birth and be that most vulnerable point of giving birth with him in the flipping room. Yeah, she just didn't want the monster there really and then she didn't want the baby. But yeah, I mean, yeah, it was amazing. Absolutely. Oh, I loved Bianca's line when she went, it's only a nunny. I know. Well, do you know what? That was actually written as it's only a fanny.

Really? Oh, no, yeah. Ed Pol wouldn't, yeah, they wouldn't do fanny. Oh, I think it sounded much better saying it's only a nunny. So I thought a nun was good. Yeah. A nun. We came up with nun. We were coming up with lots of things. You can imagine it's only things we were saying in rehearsals.

I can't believe it was originally written as it's only a Fanny. It was. Only a Fanny and we couldn't say it. So there were lots of ideas. But we settled for nun. I think nun. I think nun was good. It was good. Oh, so you know, when they would none. I think none, I think none was good. It was good.

God, so you know when they would like cut to another scene, would you all just start talking to each other and going, oh my God, that was all right? Well, we'd start, we'd think, we had a couple of scenes, Lacey and James scenes, Martin and Sonia, that's old, Martin and Stacey scenes, which were quite long.

We had maybe a nine minute gap and an 11 minute gap. So we'd step off of set and we had three little chairs all lined up and we'd just go and sit in the dark and then we'd just go through what was next, make sure we remembered our blocking props, what we were doing, baby in the right, baby in the left, you know, just angles because obviously we'd known what we were doing and then yeah, then we'd just set up, get back on. Oh my god. Get ready to do it. It was absolutely brilliant. But for me, all of the scenes with Patsy and Jack, Lauren and Bianca, were just fun and us as a trio just works because we know each other so well and we've seen, you've met Patsy now, how brilliant she is. Yeah.

And Jackie and I are close. So that just felt really fun and easy. Yeah. close so that just felt really fun and easy. I had about a minute and thirty, maybe a bit, I don't think much longer, to get from on the floor and saving the baby crying to then get into the ambulance and start my monologue. Did you belt it? Not to, no I was really, I was methodical, I had to put my shoes back on because I had barefoot and I did the same thing every single time, every rehearsal, very superstitious like that. But then sitting in the ambulance on my own with the baby, I just kept thinking, I'm completely on my own if I fuck this up. And again, Lauren's words, the way I overlaid the end,

because it was a monologue over pictures, and I did that live and I had a monitor in the ambulance. Yes, you could see them and yeah. And then I could time how I wanted to do it with the pictures. Yes. And then I knew when it was coming back to me to not look at them.

So that took a lot of work and yeah, I was quite proud of that bit because I was completely on my own. I had no one to pick me up. Yes, well it was just brilliant. You timed it all perfectly and it was just, it was lovely. I mean it was brilliant and it's so moving all of that bit and then it's just like at the end when everybody's screaming and it's awful, it's so moving. It was moving and everyone's such a team that yeah we just had a brilliant time.

Did anything go wrong? Because from watching it, it didn't seem like anything went wrong at all. No, I don't think anything went wrong. No one knows what's on paper. That's what we have to remember. I said, if I dry, I'm just going to scream. So good luck girls. I said, you'll have to make it up. Selfish. God, it was so good. What did you feel like afterwards? Elated, I just, I cried my eyes out actually. I was sat in the ambulance and I saw that beautiful shot of them at the end and it pulled out and the credits rolled and I was still sat watching and I just cried my heart out actually. When did you know that you were clear? Did they

say or could you just tell when it had finished? Yeah, you could just tell when it had finished, yeah. Oh my god. But it was a real feeling of, sad really, that it was over, that James was go, that was it for James. Just very emotional, but also really proud of what we achieved. Yeah. Really proud. Oh my god, it was full of so much drama. I mean, flipping ex Cindy pushing Ian in front of the car. Oh, I know. Good god. That woman is responsible for everything.

And Kathy hitting her in the back of the head. Oh my god. And the gun, the bullet. And if the bullet had been in there Phil wouldn't be in there now. I just think the storytelling has been so good in the last couple of weeks. And for people that watch all the time, how many seeds have been planted for so long and where it culminated. I just thought it was brilliant. I feel very emotional at the moment about the whole show and I'm leaving. So it's a lovely time to be there. And I think it's nice to be there and, you know, believe in when it's so good. Yes, when it is just so amazing. I mean, oh my God, the whole of the last week, and I watched, you know, the episode with, you know, the boys, with Phil.

The flashback, I mean, I've been on it still about it. I was honestly astounded when I watched it right because the young boy who's playing Phil. Daniel his name is, wonderful. He was just incredible, he was Phil. And then suddenly the other one comes in and I was like, oh my god is Ross Kemp dubbing this or something because that's Ross Kemp's voice. I know.

He just completely, Natalie had to tell you that. I spoke to the boys in great length actually and I made them feel welcome at home because it is a daunting place to walk into. Oh my god it must be so nerve wracking. And they were just brilliant. I said you don't realise the impact you've had and they said we've studied them. We've studied them on YouTube, all the old scenes between them. They put a lot of work into it and they were there a couple of years ago. Were they?

Yeah, the young Phil and Grant, we have done this flashback thing before. Yeah. And I think they were so good they had to get them back. So I'm expecting a lot more flashback episodes. That would be so good because I mean it was really good. And Jamie Winston as Peggy. She was brilliant, wasn't she? She was fantastic, absolutely fantastic. And it was nice seeing an episode like that, wasn't it? I mean a flashback episode. I just feel like it's a little play of its own. As much as it was EastEnders, and I think viewers sometimes don't like change. And sometimes it can go wrong if you do really change it up.

I think people like EastEnders as EastEnders because they're nostalgic and they're creatures of habit. But I think when you put in something that's so poignant because of Phil's mental state and then add these wonderful actors playing the characters that you already know, I do think it works. Yeah, definitely. And also the man who was playing their dad, he was so good. Georgie Russo, yeah. I went to run a show with him. Did you?

Yeah, I did. He was wonderful, wasn't he? Yeah, he was brilliant. So today we are going to be chatting to two of my best mates from work who also happen to be two iconic characters from EastEnders. Lacey Turner who plays Stacey Slater and Kelly Bright who plays Linda Carter. Oh my god, that's incredible. So that's what we're going to be doing this episode. You're in for a treat, guys. Oh my god, that's incredible. So that's what we're going to be doing this episode. You're in for a treat guys.

Oh my god, it's brilliant. Kelly is going to be with us in the studio. She's popping in when she's going to sit down and have a good old nag to us. But Lacey's only just had her baby. She is a superwoman, so we're leaving her at home so she can put her baby to bed. Otherwise I think she would have killed me if I would have got her out for another evening. My god it's going to be so weird seeing Kelly here. It's quite freaky seeing you with like your cast mates, like seeing you next to Patsy and then seeing you next to Kelly. I mean and then literally, it's just weird, it's just really weird. Kelly looks nothing like Linda Carter.

Really? No. Oh my god. I think you're going to be very surprised. Oh my god. Because she's created a character. Yeah, that's really like, yeah, you know what Linda looks like. Yeah, she's iconic. Sonia's, I never had the chance to do that. What do you mean? Well, I just think because I was 10. Yeah. And then I just sort of grew up and I had the clothes that I was

in and she was what she was. Yeah. I she was what she was Yeah, I turned her into a biker a biker chick like Nessa Sonya comes in on a motorbike one day. Yeah With her trumpet on her back Massive in gemstones There's always room yeah Yeah, there is. Never say never. Right, shall I phone my mate, Lacey? Oh my god, yes please. Let's give her a call. Hope she's not putting the baby to bed. Here we go. Hello. Hello gorgeous. Hello. Hello. Hi. Congratulations congratulations not just on the live episode but on everything though you were just absolutely incredible oh thank you how are you feeling i mean i can't believe that you

managed to do all of that and you've just had a baby but aside from that i mean like do all of that in the live and it was so emotional will you you just tell us how did it feel? What was it like? What happened? It's like, I still try to get over it. It's so overwhelming. But yeah, I mean, I don't know. It was crazy. It was just such a lovely thing to be a part of and the camaraderie of that place and the adrenaline and so it was it was pretty epic but bittersweet for me so it was a bit like I don't really know there isn't an emotion for how I feel I'm still sort of like oh I know did you feel like as you yourself as well are you really sad that Martin Fowler's died I couldn't

believe it. How did you feel? I'm heartbroken. It's so weird because it feels like, you know, he's actually died. Isn't it, Nat? It's so weird. It's very strange. I haven't stopped crying. Yeah, Lacey's not stopped crying. Really? Yeah, because as we say, usually with a character on an exit, not only do you know it's coming

and it's coming and it's not so much as a secret, if you like, around the studios and to other people some of the time, but also they have a chance to get used to it and you know there's a leaving day but they might pop back for a pick up. But it was so final. And what Lacey and James did, they were acting and they felt exactly how they felt. So I think that's what made it so phenomenal really. Everyone was lovely. It was lovely. All the different little pockets of things, the whole episode had a little bit of everything. Like you three in the kitchen, I absolutely loved

that. I loved I, I loved Scott, you know, team Jack. I'm not supposed to have a team but I am. I'm with know, team Jack. I'm not supposed to have a team, but I am. I'm with you on team Jack. I just love the whole thing. But yeah, no, I am. I mean, I'm heartbroken. We've had such a lovely time together, me and James. I love the bones of that man.

Often that you have a partnership on screen that just happens. We just sort of click. I mean, we were terrible. We never learned our lines. We just turned up and said them. But we could do that with each other. We sort of knew how the other person was going to do it. So yeah, I mean, I thought he's brilliant. He's so brilliant. I sold Jimmy. Jimmy bye. And we wanted to ask you, because a lot of the listeners have asked this question, but how long, how long did you have the info that you knew that was going to happen? Because I think it was such a well kept secret. Oh, God, yeah, it was. I think, I want to say

that we knew in like September, maybe, maybe a bit later. Wow! Yeah. It might have been a bit later. Yeah, but it was too long. Yeah, it was a long time. I mean that must be so incredibly hard knowing that that's, you know, coming up and then having to keep it to yourself and everything. Did you find, you know, that difficult? Well, I just sort of, I just pretended it wasn't happening. She did actually, right happened to her the way before?

No, I did. And then the week before it was like, oh, God, it's coming, it's coming, it's coming. It was like this thing creeping up on me. Because also, you know, like you just said, to do it live and that be your last ever scene you'll do together is such a weird feeling. I mean it still doesn't feel real. I still feel like I'm gonna bump into him at the tea bar. I mean it was you know... I spent all day looking at his face.

Oh my god! There's pictures of him everywhere. But it must have been so hard because the stuff that you were filming. I mean oh my gosh it was so from the heart anyway and we were all just willing, the pair of you, to you know just get back together and everything but then on top of that you've got you know the paramedics around you, there's like the fire crew coming in, there's you know all of that with you know all of the stuff and all of the dust and all of that. What was it like filming you know with all of that practical stuff going on around you? It's funny actually because when we did the three long scenes in the middle,

I didn't notice anyone else around us. Do you know what? It was such a beautiful script. And Lauren Clea, who wrote it, it was so easy to learn because she obviously just knew what Martin and Stacey would say to each other in that moment. So it just felt like it was just them in the room.

I mean, I had, I have no idea what the firefighters are doing behind me the whole time. But also I just didn't notice anyone moving or anything. And that was actually quite a scary thing because you can miss your cue. Yeah. You're so into it. Yeah. And I'm thinking, please, just don't balls it up. Just don't you be the ones that balls it up.

What were you like at the very, very end of, you know, filming the live episode? I just, we didn't move for a minute. We was just sort of hugging. Oh. But yeah, I know it was really sad because obviously it's an end of an era for them and for us on that show.

Oh, yeah. So it was just sort of genuine sadness. Although I know James wasn't dying, but I wasn't going to work with him again in that place. I was so proud to be a part of that show. Cause when it sings, it bloody sings. I don't do well with change. I've been eating the same biscuits for 20 years.

I think you're right. I think it's the end of an era. Gosh. Do you know what Pam St Clement called her old biography? What? Pam St Clement who played Peck Butcher. My favourite book to write, however, End of an Earring. Oh, good, isn't it? It, that's brilliant. Yeah, it's very good. Oh, lovely poem. Lovely poem.

Well, I thought you were absolutely incredible and I thought you as well Nat were just, I thought everybody was incredible. It was brilliant. I'm pleased you watched it, Jo. Brilliant for what? Brilliant. Well, it was lovely. Well, Lace, I can't thank you enough. I can't thank you enough for taking time this evening just to say hello to us. Honestly, you were brilliant and everybody is talking about how brilliant you were and you really are a superhuman being.

My god, it's just incredible. I was watching you and I was just like, oh my god, I can't believe that she's learnt all of this and she's doing all of this and she's just had a baby. I mean, how the hell did you manage it? I've got an army. I'm surrounded by an army. I've got a brilliant mom, brilliant husband. My dad's great. My nan comes around, she folds the washing. So I don't do it on my own. I've got a bloody army. She's amazing. Thank you, Lace, so much. Thank you, lady. Have a lovely evening. Yeah. Love you. See's amazing. Thank you, Lace, so much. Thank you. Thank you, lady. Have a lovely

evening. Yeah. Love you. See you tomorrow. See you later. Bye. Love you. See you in the morning. Love you. Bye. Bye. Oh, she's so lovely. She's, I have to say with, in terms of normal person who has no idea of her talent, it's Lacey Turner. Oh, she seems so nice. She is honestly not only one of my dearest friends, but I think one of the best actors EastEnders has ever seen. She's got like a little baby that she's just given birth to back home and she's just chatting on the phone and she's just like, she sounds so together and just really sorted.

You would love it a bit. She was just incredible. She really was. She really, really was. And Lacey has also started a little podcast. She has, hasn't she? Well, it's a series, I believe, so it's not an ongoing, but if you love soap and you want to hear more about classic soaps and how people got where they did and lots of conversation with writers, actors, the podcast is called We Started Here and it's absolutely fantastic.

Brilliant. I've just spotted outside the studio a very familiar cardigan and I'm going to have to get her in to meet you. Kelly Bright. God, should we give her a squeeze? Oh my god I'm so excited. Let's go and get her. Oh my gosh, well I just can't believe that we have got the wonderful Kelly Bright here and I really feel like I am in a scene in the past because we've got like the same seating and I literally feel like itkette. You've got a bonkette. Can I just say congratulations to you and to the pair of you for the most wonderful live episode

but also the build-up for the whole of the Flip-in. I mean it was just incredible. I know we were everywhere weren't we? I mean I have to say in all my time on the show I don't think I have ever, ever felt so EastEnders sort of heavy, like it was in the air, it was in the ether. Everywhere you looked there was something about it, which was, I mean it was lovely, it's a lovely time to be in the show isn't it? It was lovely and I do have to say shout out to the press team, because everybody did something in their own little way.

Kelly did the most amazing Radio Times cover, I don't know if you've seen it. No I didn't. Oh I'll get it up. There were about seven of us that did it. Oh my god, I know, yes, I know which one, yes. They're all black and white pictures and they're beautiful. And yeah the different actresses said yes. Yeah it was a lovely shoot to be part of. I mean I'm terrible at looking at my own picture, I cannot bear it but I can appreciate that it was a really lovely thing and I was really, I felt really honoured to be part of it. I was a little bit like, oh there's Joan Trotter. Bring Robin Tripp's back now!

Oh still one of my favourites. Favourite job, really? One of my favourites, right up there, I'd say, I mean I can't put it above EastEnders can I? Not while I'm still in EastEnders. That would be bad. But it was definitely up there. I mean it was, I can still remember getting that job and thinking, oh, what? What? Because I'm a huge Only Falls fan, like many people, you know. And for all of our listeners, if you haven't seen it, there's a television recommendation for you. Rock and chips. There you go.

Oh, thanks, Nat. Bless you. No, it's brilliant. So, yes, so we had a very, it's been EastEnders, EastEnders, EastEnders all the way, hasn't it? And I would like to say, just because I had a very, I had a nice part to play in the 40th, but I was not as heavily featured as some of our other cast were, including our incredible Natalie Cassidy, who sat here with me, who really, I mean, what they pulled off is nothing short of extraordinary. Because there was such, I mean those scenes, Natalie was obviously giving birth, we had Lacey and James, you know, in their parting scenes, highly emotional scenes. Obviously

when the public see the episode they're seeing a very, very polished, in fact perfect, let's say perfectly executed episode. But to get to that point you have to do so much rehearsal I mean it was relentless wasn't it? How long had you been rehearsing for? So we started the read through roughly 10 days before and then we started blocking through actors rehearsals, read throughs, any notes, niggles followed by technical rehearsals then read-throughs, any notes, niggles, followed by technical rehearsals. Then we started straight running on the Friday before the episode on the Thursday. So Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday were run-throughs to make sure we were all on cue and in time and doing what we do best. So it was a lot. It felt a real tea, it felt such a special, it felt like another job. It did, it was, well it was another job. It was a lot. It felt a real tea, it felt such a special, it felt like another job.

It did, it was, well it was another job. It was completely, a complete departure from what we normally do and actually I'd say, so what I was just going to say about that is for those people that were doing that big heavy stuff, telling those big stories, that is so exhausting. I mean I don't know how they did it. I really don't. I've said it to all of them individually, but I really, my hat off to them all. I'm in awe. I think they're all incredible. Well, that's very kind. But I think anybody involved in that, you know, it is exhausting. I felt, I wanted to ask you how you felt on Friday.

Like I've been hit by a train. Yeah. Oh! I genuinely mean that. I couldn't believe how exhausted I felt. Yeah. Did you have Friday off or were you back in filming? We had Friday off.

We did actually, which is a rarity. Did that feel weird in itself? That you were like, oh my God. I almost wanted to be with everybody. It's that feeling of, you know, for the listener, if you go to an amazing wedding and it's a three-day wedding and you go away with all your mates and you have the best time and you get home and you're sad, it's over. That's the feeling I would say it feels like.

Yeah, it was so many emotions because, you know, it was an incredible thing to do and I think the episode was beautiful. I have to give a little shout out to Lauren Clea who wrote it because she for me is one of our best writers that we have on the show and I loved the episode but we were also saying goodbye to really dear dear friend I mean Natalie's work with James closely for years. He came in with Sonia yeah I mean we've yeah it's it's very bittersweet. Really well that's exactly the word I would use bittersweet and I I mean when we came off air that night I don't know about you now on that Thursday night but I just I burst into tears. I told you didn't I don't know about you now on that Thursday night, but I just, I burst into tears.

I told you, didn't I? Yeah, you said you dated him. And I, I don't know, I wasn't expecting it. I don't know, I think I knew I would feel sad, but I didn't expect the sort of huge wave of emotion. And what was he like afterwards when it finished? What was he like? I think he, yeah, listen, there was emotion, but we all had a really lovely time afterwards all together

and it was really special. And James is going to go on and do fantastic things, you know, so I think it's a brilliant showcase for James leaving. 100%. You couldn't leave in a better way, really. Yeah, no. What an amazing thing. I mean, it was just amazing. I mean seeing the pair of them together and then when they are you know heading out and then he stops

her and he pulls her back and you're like oh my god and then when the live episode was going out I just kept thinking oh god no no no and then when you know that and she's told that he is going to it's just awful it was just so emotional. It was just but it was fantastic I mean it was it was just fantastic. Yeah well it was just fantastic. Yeah well, Nat's right, you know everybody that worked on it just put their all into it I think and I'm going to also give a little shout out to Lance Neesha who directed Have To because he is extraordinary this man isn't he?

He's extraordinary. He's extraordinary. I don't know anyone else that could have done it. Well I found it quite freaky that Nat reminded me that the run up, you know all of the episodes, the run up to the live was all done like in November. So it's explaining what Lance wanted, that feeling of it being the same and that's what he achieved. But then I was sitting like oh my god I've only just kind of realised and put it together I was just like oh my god you've just looked exactly the same. No I know it's it's very odd we work in a very odd way don't we because we're so with normally six to eight weeks ahead so actually those Monday Tuesday Wednesday last week were

all filmed way before Christmas you know November December time wasn't it early December and and actually we there was a moment when we were rehearsing the big sort of crowd stuff outside, because I had not been part of any of the Vic exploding. My character was in the arches with Phil and Grant and Nigel. I mean, can we just talk about that for a minute? Can you tell me what was it like? What was it like doing all of the stuff with Phil and with all of them? What was it like? Well, yeah, again, I'm going to have to talk about Steve McFadden. Just how extraordinary

he is and Paul Bradley. Can we just say, I mean, what a joy of a human being and also he, I mean, all of them. I, them. So I'm going to tell you a little story. Yeah, I'm you. You were incredible. It was extraordinary. I spoke to Steve the other day and I don't think he would mind me saying that he was very casually sitting around as he does and he was chatting about those scenes because I'm obsessed with them and I keep talking to him about them. It's all I talk about. I think he's like, oh my god, she's here again. My number one fan.

Oh, Steve's here. And I was talking and he said it was just wonderful. And when I knew Kelly was going to be there, I wondered how the dynamic would work and it was the biggest gift of all. Oh, yes. So I do love working with Steve. There is something about Phil and Linda's relationship that is really special. And I think it is because they sort of have a shared life experience. You know, they are both alcoholics, they have a deep understanding of each other that they don't need to speak about. You know, it's

just kind of there. But I walked, I'd actually, well Linda had been in rehab, so I'd actually well I Linda had been in rehab so I'd actually Kelly had had about six weeks off which was very nice I literally walked kind of straight back into filming those episodes I'd done one scene the week before in the kitchen in the kitchen but I had literally so I was it was you know what it's like when you haven't done something for a while and I get this over the Christmas break sometimes I think oh I don't oh I can't remember how to do it oh god so I walked in and I was thinking gosh I mean I loved the scenes I was very excited to be doing them but I walked into the arches and of course I'm the only female

there so I'd been in full makeup and all of that takes forever to get me ready and then I walked in and they were already there and I sort of walked in and I went oh my It was Ross Kemp's first day, first scenes and I walked in and they were all there with their scripts and I looked at them all and I was like oh my, inside I'm going it's Grant and Phil and Nigel! And the thing was I was so sort of like this is so exciting and but the thing that really like tickled me was that they were all there with their glasses on because now we are all of an age where we need to have our glasses on to read our scripts and that really tickled me and then I actually sent and I'm sure you won't mind me saying I

actually text Chris Clenshaw our executive producer there and then and I said oh my god this is so exciting I think I might wet myself and he messaged me back and he said, that is the best text I've had from any actor while I've been on this show. That is brilliant. Because I genuinely meant it. Oh god, yes. I genuinely meant it. I was in there as an audience member watching the people that I had watched growing up in

the same set, being Phil and Grant and Nigel, it was just brilliant. That's how it felt watching it. It was so brilliant. I loved it. I loved filming the scenes. I felt really lucky to be part of them. But going back to what I was saying, I hadn't seen any of the Vic stuff, right? So I wasn't part of any of it filming it. I had no concept of what they were all going through. And actually, I hadn't seen anything up until even when we were doing this live. So what they did was they put together like a nine minute trailer and all of us that were in that sort of outside scene looking at the Vic waiting for news and they put together a little trailer of this week so we got to see a little snippet

of it all. And I was like, oh my goodness, oh it's brilliant. But also kind of like, oh it really blows up. I had no concept actually just Because you can't you go if you're not there you don't know so it was really I mean it was really useful But it because it because it brought us up to date, you know, it kind of married the two for me It was really important to kind of go. Oh, it's taken me right back to that But then of course, I did also watch the episodes last week So before we went into Thursday to do the live I was watching the hour long special on the Wednesday.

So were you watching it? You know, leading up to the event? Did you watch it now? Yeah, we all watched it. We were at the hotel near work and there were a few of us, about seven or eight of us. And we got a monitor brought into a little room and we sat around and we watched the hour long special. Oh my gosh special all together. It was just really amazing, really couldn't believe it and also it did get you back to there because as I said it was five to six weeks ago that we'd done that so it was really helpful.

In my head it literally blew up just the other day. I mean because I'm just completely there. Well that's the magic of telling. But we have to talk about in that hour long, you know, because the anniversary is actually the Wednesday the 19th. 19th? Yeah. Yeah that's the anniversary. So in that episode, so I'm sat on my sofa at home, I'm not in the hotel. I'm sat on my sofa at home and I'm watching it and I think I've seen the script obviously because I'm in it so I'm very sure of what's coming kind of thing and even though I hadn't read everybody else's stuff but I and then all of a sudden my kind of idol really is on the telly and and Anita Dobson is there looking perfectly Angie yeah sounding perfectly Angie in the most beautiful scene with Tish Dean

and I burst into tears I couldn't I was sobbing. But because I had no idea, we had no idea. No idea at all. So what, was it kept a surprise? Complete secret. Total secret. When I say total secret, I'm talking I think maybe ten people knew. Oh my god. Yeah, if that.

You know, it was really, really kept secret. But my brain did the weirdest thing you know when I was watching it is that when she first appeared on screen I didn't it wasn't a shock I went oh and there's Angie and then I went oh and then I was like and then I could I've watched it about five times. I keep going back and watching it. But even the space they put her in was perfect. Oh, everything was perfect. Because that's where they did the divorce papers. Oh, it was all by the stairs.

Yes, I remember. And do you know, do you want to know, this is a fabulous fact. So Jane, who is one of the designers, costume designers, used to be a dresser when she was very, very young and she was Anita's dresser for the last six months that Anita was on the show right so when it had aired Jane knows because with the first conversation I ever had with the costume department I said to Jane apparently I didn't even remember saying this I would like I would like to base Linda on Angie Watts yeah think Angie Watts in terms of her look and all of that. And she really remembers me saying that. Anyway, so she sent me some

pictures after the episode had aired of her and Anita. And do you know the costume that she wore for the special? Yes. Was her exact costume from back in the day. Anita had kept a whole about five or six or seven outfits of Angie's and she had kept them all this time. It's 37 years since she was on the show and some of them had been I don't know if all or some had been donated to a charity or something, they were on displays. They managed to get them back. Oh my God. And they had them there with, and she chose one. She chose the black suit. That's right, with the white thing.

And she, I mean, I just. Oh my God. I mean, just those little details for me just blow my mind. I'm like, it's just just and I and then I saw Anita on Saturday night at the party with Nat Ashley and I you know I mean it's I am a huge I'm a fan I'm a fan of hers she was incredible she was yes so because it wasn't there was there was not a caricature no it was nothing. She was just dancing. It wasn't camp. No it was real. Yeah. I agree.

Honest it was, but that first hello darling. I was just, I was like oh it just made me go. I couldn't, I was just like oh this is, I mean I do a hats off to Chris Clenshaw and the team for that one because wow. I can't believe that you did that and none of you knew. No. My god that's incredible. What was it like watching it with all the others when that happened? Incredible. Everyone just went, oh!

But yeah, it was just magical TV, wasn't it? It was just watching history, wasn't it? It was special. And then as she's going and she's saying, come on, you've got to be strong. It was just beautiful. It was. It really was. And I can really see, now you saying that, there is a real closeness between Angie and Linda. Danny and I always

used to say that Mick and Linda, because he basically based Mick on Frank. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right? And I based Linda on Angie and we used to say it's what would have happened if Angie had met Frank. Oh my god. We are what Angie, if Angie had been with Frank. That was our little thing. Yeah. Oh my god. I know. I mean, both fantastic. But I just, yeah. I mean I, I just, I just loved seeing, I mean, I did say to Chris Clencher, I said, the only thing is, of course, if I've been able to be in the scene with her. You know, that's the only thing. But actually, I can at least say I've been in the same episode as Anita, which is thrilling for me. It is incredible. I mean, I have to say, I don't know about you, Nett, but I feel as excited about EastEnders

Now as I did when I walked into the show 11 and a half years ago. 100%. Right. This couple of weeks, when you're watching, especially as Kelly said, when you're not involved in stuff, you haven't got time to read everybody's script. We're getting on with our stuff in our lane, if you like. But when you watch it, and the pride you feel for these episodes, and it's about all your friends, all your colleagues who act, but also the directors, the story, the costume, as Kelly's mentioned, you're so proud of everyone. I just feel so

still just so honored and grateful that I'm a part of it all. Yeah I did feel really I did think I had many moments last week where I just thought oh my goodness me I'm in East Enders. Yeah yeah yeah. So what did it feel like you know during the live when everybody was gathering and everybody was all around the square and everything and everybody was all there together what did you feel like? Before it came how did you feel kind of you know five minutes before? Yeah what did you feel like? Do you know what I felt I went through real over from from the first run on the Friday actually was one of the most nerve-wracking runs I think I did because we it was first run, we were running it as live, we were only going to stop if there was a problem. And we got like 25 minutes

through into it before anything happened where we had to sort of go back and read. But that was the moment where the nerves really hit me and I thought, oh no, I don't know if I want to do this. And then it was kind of an up and down affair for me. On the Sunday, which was the sort of day off, I was like a bear with a sore head. I was awful at home. I shouted at everybody. And I just thought, this is because I'm anxious. I know what it is. It's because I've got anxiety really about what's coming. But actually, steadily as the week went on...

It's exactly what happened for me, isn't it, William? Oh really? Exactly the same. How interesting. My heart was coming out of my mouth on Friday. Yeah. And by Wednesday and Thursday, I thought I can do this and I'm gonna enjoy it.

Yeah. Well, Thursday, with the day of the live, I was the most sort of, I mean, I don't wanna say relaxed, but the most sort of, I felt like I was ready. Like I felt like we were all ready. I was excited more than I was terrified by that point. Needless to say, there is nothing quite like, because I was in a scene that was two minutes in, which meant that two minutes before we were on air I had to stand in my position. Yes. And obviously there were lots and lots of people around. It was drizzling a bit so

someone blessed them with standing with a brolly over me trying to keep me dry. Matt Hart's already said to me, I'm going to have to wipe my lens a few times. Don't let it put you off because it's fine mist. And I was like, I'm Blair. I mean, Matt Hart is just amazing. And I was like, don't worry. Thank you. But there was a lot. He's a cameraman, but lots and lots of people around. Like it was, there were a lot of people everywhere. And so I did kind of always put my head down and sometimes close my eyes, but it was really more about just trying to keep myself

in the zone really. But then you're very, because everyone's got cans on. Yeah. So you can hear the music. I was asking her what's that like? That's when my heart, it doesn't matter how much you think, your heart starts going in your chest. And you can't deny that, but I kind of knew it would. So because I knew it would, I was like, it's okay. It's okay to feel it's alright.

This is normal. You're gonna be alright. You're gonna be alright. And all you sort of think is, really, is that you don't want to drop the ball for anybody else. That's what I see. I just think I just want to keep my bit in the air so that I'm not letting anybody down. Yeah. And it was a brilliant scene. It was a lovely scene. Gorgeous scene. I really loved it. I loved the fact that... Did you see my Instagram post about the tits up line? No, no. Oh, I've got to tell you. So so many people post like message me and Chris Clenshaw said to one of his best friends one of the first message he sent to him after it was on was

Did Linda Carter say tits up by accident? Everyone thought I'd made it up and just thrown it in, which I laughed at because I was like as if I would have the bollocks to do that. I was like, I'll just improv this bit. I'll just make this bit up. But I did also say when we were rehearsing, I can't believe I'm going to get to say tits on live telly. I mean that's quite exciting, right? It's a exciting right? So they wanted tits and fanny in it. They wanted tits and fanny but we only got tits. So many people were questioning it on my thing so I thought I can't have this so I basically posted it. Oh I did see the script. I posted a bit of the

script that said my line and I said much you know I hate to tell you but it was definitely in the script here it is but I just loved the fact that people thought I'd just thrown it in just you know off the cuff. I mean I'd love to be that relaxed. So it was very much a planned line. But yeah, I was very relieved. I was supposed to flip a coin in that scene as well. Oh, this is brilliant. Oh my god. Yeah. So when we first got the script, I'm so supposed to actually, I take out a coin and I basically, because it's all about Denise making her decision. And so I said, well, why don't you toss a coin? And I was supposed to then go on and toss the coin catch the coin and she then puts her hand over my hand before I call it to say no I know what I want to do. I just spent...uh no.

Just no. Don't do that to me. Can you munch on your hand? No exactly. You throw it in the air it falls on the floor. No, don't do that to me. Can you imagine? Please don't. Can you imagine? You throw it in the air and it falls on the floor. Well, I can't toss a coin for Toffee anyway and I just thought my hands would be sweaty, shaking, there's just no, there's no way and so I suggested that she just stop me just before I toss a coin and thankfully they let me. Can you imagine?

I was just like, that is so, I can't do that. I can't do that live. I mean, even if we were recording that, I'd probably have to do it ten times. Yeah, absolutely. Do you know what I mean? So, I can see you now, all of you scrambling around in the dark, looking for the pounds. I had three 50p's in my pocket,

in case one fell on the floor. Oh my god! Oh, you can imagine, can't you? At one point, we were were there and it's in between where Bianca says I can see the head and then we had about seven minutes I think and we were quite good we were stepping off and we were sitting on our chairs in the dark we didn't stay on because it was quite uncomfortable whatever and we were stepping off but then I went in and we were all a bit relaxed and I said I've got to get the umbilical cord of the jelly baby sort of up my body where the bump was and it was all a bit too relaxed. I said oh no we've got to get the baby under there.

How did you cope with the baby and everything and all of that? Logistically yeah it is quite hard. Technically it was a challenge because of what you can see and what you can't see but bless Patsy really that was her job to wrap the baby and all of that stuff. It was brilliant all of that. One of my favourite moments in your scenes was the moment just after Sonia gives birth and that stillness, that complete and utter light kind of checking out. I thought it was so moving. And I just, you know, she's been through an awful lot up to that point.

It is just such a shame for Sonia really. Because all she wanted was this perfect family. Because her first baby she didn't know she was having and she wanted yoga and lovely things and so I have the baby with everyone around her and it hasn't happened before, bless her. But there we go. And it made blinking good Tali. Oh didn't it? And we have to talk about the... So my brother actually said to me, well I said oh it's perfect, he said it's so perfect she wouldn't have known it was live and I said well I'm sure that was you know the aim, but he said but the last bit of it that like montage bit that was pre-recorded right and I went no no it wasn't pre-recorded, he was like really? He said but it was so

seamless and I said yeah and let me tell you something else. Natalie Gassidy was not only having to deliver all that dialogue, but she had a monitor. So what the audience couldn't see was that Nat had a monitor that was showing her when it cut to Steve McFadden, when it cut to the crowd outside, when it cut to all these different places, Lacey and James, and Natalie was timing her dialogue perfectly with the pictures now that I'll tell you let me tell you a story yeah on the want to say Wednesday might

have been Tuesday was it anyway one of the rehearsal nights, I got into the ambulance and the monitor was off. So the monitor was black. Yeah. And it's interesting because I do love behind the cameras, you know, like I'm obsessed with, I love all of it, the technical side of it as well. So Patsy and Jackie at some point kept saying, I can hear too much in the cans, like what Kelly said about the music and all that. I said, I don't turn it down. I liked hearing Cut To This. I liked hearing the shot numbers because I sort of knew the shot numbers because I'm a geek. So when the monitor went off and everyone was a little bit panicky, I said, shh, shh, shh. And I said, Emma, I just need to hear you. You know, just shush. And I could just hear cut to the fill cut to diet and

Scott cut to and with the cut I knew where to come in yeah so when it was done I timed it without the monitor and I thought now I don't know what happens you're so clever if the monitor goes black yeah I know it'll be alright but that is only you could do that only you could do that. Only you could do that, because I hate hearing the thing. I'm like, oh turn it down! And seeing the monitor. So when it cut to me, obviously I could see me. Oh god, that's just so mad! Exactly!

I was in visualise. I was watching the monitor, and then I knew when obviously I couldn't look at the monitor, and then it was back to my bit. That little tiny bit, it was the most petrifying being on my own, but it was really technical and I was sort of in my element because it was so technical. Yeah, but you loved it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But you were, it was brilliant. It was brilliant.

Like such a, such a thing to pull off. Such an honor for Lauren also to give it to me. I felt that was always something that June Brown would do. Doc Cotton would have a voiceover. Kelly had a beautiful one the other night actually with Steve. With Steve, which I didn't even realise that's what it was for. But those overlaying moments are special. They are. We don't do them too often and they're very special so I felt very hon honored to have that at the end.

How do you both feel after like being on the other side of it now? I mean what was it like when it like completely ended and it like and it finished? I mean and also right this is about like loads of questions all in one actually and when you were like in the middle of it could you enjoy it or were you just like completely in the moment or could you ever step out of it and go oh my god I'm quite enjoying this or and then when you got to the end how did you feel and also how do you feel now? I'll just say I'll answer one bit of that I didn't step out of it all the time we stepped out of set but continually I was running the next scene in my head running the next lines running the saying the bottle of brandy baby to the left. We had

so many things to do that I yeah I was in it fully really till the end. I was lucky that my scene was early on and then what I did was I went to sit in the little house on the square which is actually the Truman's house where we were waiting at the start of the show and I went in there and I could completely relax and I had my tea and I went in there and I could completely relax and I had my tea and I had my knitting and I literally used to sit there and knit for about 20 minutes until I had to go back on

for the bit in the square because I didn't have anything else to say really. So then I could, so I could actually relax. And do you know what, my knitting had been going, I've been trying this new knit, I'd learned to do this double pointed needles and cabling anyone that knits will know what I'm talking about but I just learned to do it I've been on a course and see she's Natalie's not the only geek and I

I'd been going really well all week and then I came off from the live and I picked up a knitting I was like oh it's done oh my god it's done and I messed up my knitting I messed it up I had to end it up with a hole I had to take all my stitches up I was furious absolutely the live was fantastic but the knitting was a disaster on Thursday night an absolute disaster but yeah I did I could sort of step out of it a bit post my scene. I mean, I always knew that looking back on it, I mean, because I have done a life before.

I was there for the 30th. I didn't have as much to do, but I was there. And I did sort of know that looking back on it would be the best bit. We would kind of go, wow, we did that. But yeah, we sort of talked about this earlier, but it was a complete departure for us. We work at breakneck speed most of the time. We cover an awful lot in one day. We do a lot of scenes, a lot of dialogue, and we have to, therefore.

We learn it, we do it, we delete it. That's how we work. You have to, we learn it we do it we chuck it away yeah right that's how we work and you have to don't you just have to because otherwise you've got no space to let the next lot in and obviously this was not that and even though I've done theatre and all sorts of things before it's been a long time since I've worked that way and actually what my brain started to do, I think around Monday, was delete it. Oh my god, yes. And I was like, it's one scene, I mean it's one scene, but I would be running it with Di, we always ran it before we did it, and we got to bit and I was like, oh shit, I don't

know what it is. Literally, it was totally gone. And then you start panicking a bit because you're like, well what if that happens? What if it just, and so it was a very strange exercise for us. And then you start panicking a bit because you're like, well, what if that happens? What if it just... And so it was a very strange exercise for us. We are not used to doing that and keeping hold of it in that way.

I did a couple of runs where we do scene one and then I go, all right, next one. And then I get on the floor and go, oh, shit, no, I've not done the one where I go around the kitchen yet. I'd skip scenes, you know, in my head to the shape of them and it is that we have to we have to learn and delete. But we won't delete this. No no no we won't and it was a real I did feel a real privilege to be part of it. Me too. Well it was amazing getting to watch it. Thanks Jo. Really brilliant. Well done. And thank you to everybody for all your messages.

We've had lots of messages so that's so kind of you all. Until the 45th what'd you say? Oh yeah babe. I'll see you there yeah. Or maybe 50th. Oh my god. Do you know what I can remember doing the 30th thinking, well I won't have to go through this again. And here I am! Oh my god. I saw a little clip of Adam Wood yet saying see you at the 50th the other day and I was like, oh. Oh thank you so much for coming to see us. It's my pleasure girls. I've loved it. Thank you so much. And I love you. I love you. I love you so much for coming to see us. It's my pleasure girls, I've loved it.

Thank you so much. I love you. I love you so much. Oh my god, that was so much fun having Kelly on the pod. She's absolutely amazing. Isn't she quite? She is lovely. I am very lucky and honoured to call her a friend.

Yeah, you really are. It was fascinating just sitting here and listening to the pair of you and hearing all the behind the scenes stuff and everything. That was just brilliant. Oh, I'm pleased you enjoyed it. Oh, we've had so many voice notes about the last week of EastEnders, you know, the 40th anniversary. Thank you to everybody who sent these in. Let's have a listen to a few of them. Come on then. Let's do it. Hi ladies, it's Anna from North Yorkshire. Oh my God, I've just finished watching the live episode.

I cried like a baby at the end. So let me just paint a bit of a picture. I was born in February, 1985. So I think my parents started watching this from the inception and I remember watching EastEnders all the way through to being about 15. I've just celebrated my 40th birthday and I must confess I have not watched EastEnders for 25 years. From listening to the podcast you inspired me to start watching this week

for the 40th anniversary episodes. It's been amazing. I couldn't believe how many of the characters I recognized. It was like wrapping myself in an old comfy blanket on the sofa. I really enjoyed it. The quality of the acting has been fantastic. The storylines are gripping and yeah I've just watched the live episode, laughed, cried. I could not believe how professional the production of the episode was. Should have recorded it, shouldn't we? Saved on the nerves. Hey girls, I've just finished the Census live episode. I'm not completely sure what I want to say other than, oh my goodness, what did I just watch? I mean, it was sensational.

These last two weeks have been sensational. And you couldn't even tell that tonight's episode was a live episode, but I think I'm traumatized. Oh, it's a lovely message. Really, really lovely. So good. I have just watched Natalie Cassidy throw a blind out on the telly. Oh my God. Oh my God my god for a minute I thought you were gonna die when your eyes rolled back in your head and you're lying on the floor of my husband went yeah that's the one that's gonna die I went no no no

I knew you were getting written out but no you you weren't gonna die and it wasn't that it wasn't Sonya that died and oh my god I was crying my eyes out watching that and when the baby baby cried oh the relief that hit my brain and body was immense oh my god you were all absolutely phenomenal phenomenal that was live that was epic that was absolutely fantastic. Oh, isn't that great? That's amazing. Morning. This is Rachel from Lincolnshire. I watched you to Stunders Live last night and then I'm just re-watching it again this morning because I was so, so excited last night. I voted for Ravi, gutted Denise went with Jack or the public went with Jack because he's safe and dependable. I just think Ravi would have sparked a different kind of vibe.

Loved, loved, loved Sonia giving birth, voted for the name Julia, absolutely perfect for Sonia's baby. Really excited to see how you're actually gonna go out. Aww. How lovely. So, so lovely that we got to vote for the names. Yeah. Oh my God. It's still like event TV, isn't it? It's like, it just has such a huge effect on people. Yeah, absolutely huge. Hello, Natalie and Jo. Carla here. Had to call in. I've not watched EastEnders for five plus years, but because of your pod, I just couldn't resist

tuning into the live episode. And wow, I cried. Amazing. James By, no words. What an actor. Of course, everyone was great. It was flawless. It was brilliant.

I'm hooked, and I'm definitely back to being an EastEnders fan again. Isn't it lovely? So nice to hear people. Absolutely brilliant. Honestly, it's brilliant. Thank you so much for all of your messages and voice notes. It means the world to us. We've had so many good ones and we've had loads and loads for our travel show call out. So we'll be dropping a bonus ep this Friday, so keep an eye out for that.

Also, International Women's Day is coming up, so we want to hear about your most iconic female characters. Fantastic. My God, there's been plenty in EastEnders over the years. I mean, there's just been so many. There's been plenty in this last week, haven't there? Plenty in this ep. Yes. Oh my God, that's so true! Voice notice with your most iconic female characters on WhatsApp and the number is 033 06 784 704.

Next week we'll be back to our usual weekly routine, having a natter about the telly. We've got so much to watch, well we've been EastEnders mad. We've got so much to catch up on. I've not watched one Severance yet. What? Another Severance, you know. You've done it probably. Have you finished it? I'm in the beginning of series two. There we go, can't believe it. There's a new series of White Lotus. I've done two episodes of Battle of the Greatest Stakes. There's a new Bergerac series, plus we've got loads of recommendations from the listeners to catch up on. Oh, wow. Amazing. I'll see you next week. See you next week!

Bye! Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating. The commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts. And it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. BBC Sounds. So we are going to do Jupiter vs. Sefton! Well that's very well done that because in the script it does say in square brackets wrestling voice question mark. And once we touch back down on this planet we're going to go deep.

Really deep. Yes, we're journeying to the centre of the earth with guests Phil Wang, Chris Jackson and Anna Ferreira. And after all of that intense heat and pressure we're just going to kind of chill out a bit and talk about ice. And also in this series we're discussing altruism. We'll find out what it is. Exploring the history of music, recording with Brian Eno and looking at nature's shapes.

So if that sounds like your kind of thing, you can listen to the Infinite Monkey Cage first on BBC Sounds.