Off The Telly - Iconic EastEnders Moments with Patsy Palmer

Episode Date: February 12, 2025

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly.This week Nat and Jo welcome the brilliant Patsy Palmer (aka Bianca Jackson) to chat about some of the most iconic moments from the last 40 years of EastEnders as well as hearing how preparations are going for the upcoming live episode.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 Right, I did this for my mother the other day Go on Remember to subscribe to Off The Telly on BBC Sounds And please make sure that your push notifications Are turned on in your phone settings So you're up to date with all the episodes of our pod

Including this one right now as we actually speak. And I did it with my mum the other day and it's very easy to do. So, yeah, just you go on to BBC Sounds and you subscribe to Off The Telly, go to push notifications and turn them on. It's very, very easy. And it's worth it because you do forget what day things come out when you're busy and stuff and then it just pops up and you go, brilliant, got it. Downloaded.

Job done. Bob's your uncle, Fanny's your aunt. Or Fanny's your uncle, Bob's your aunt, doesn't matter. Yeah, true. There you go. Well, welcome to Off The Telly podcast and before we go any further, there's a bush in the house, there's a bush in the house,'s a bush in the house You bloody liar You know what it's like You can't say anything

Oh my god By the time you were doing your last few songs When I was watching you I was like oh my god it's gotta be her Loads of people knew You could hear the voice I know And I have to say you were incredible

You were incredible Oh shut up You were singing You were properly singing Like you were properly singing. Like, you were properly singing. And little Bush, your little prickly Bush, bouncing around everywhere. He was so cute.

I loved the character. I did love her. I loved creating this kind of fun little person. And once you get in the costume, you do create a character, don't you? You do. You end up being, you know, moving differently and stuff. But I loved it. What was it like? What did you do then a character don't you you do you end up being you know moving differently and stuff but I loved it what was it like what did you do then for the reveal

I've watched your video on Instagram and everything but please tell me about it oh it was just really good I mean a lot of the family had it they kept saying I think it's you

I can hear it's you it's got to be you and I just completely denied denied denied yeah and then I invited them all round for a takeaway which isn't unusual for us.

You know, we all get together a lot. But as it was going through, there was a few, oh, I know why you've invited us round. The mask's coming off. And I was like, oh. Was your heart going? I was a bit nervous about it all. But it was a lovely moment.

It was brilliant to see everyone. It was brilliant to see everyone. It was when everybody was like, like this, and then you can hear in the background, Eliza going, I am so embarrassed. Oh, I know. Textbook.

Typical teen. But once she'd got over that, and she was worried about lying to people, she kept saying, people at school are not going to believe me because they've been asking me and I've said no. I said, but you haven't known, darling.

Yes. You're not joking. You haven't known. So once she got her head around that, she did say, I'm really proud of you, mummy. Oh, that's so sweet. She did. How did you find keeping the secret?

Because you have to get dressed up and all of that stuff. You can't show any skin. How did you find that? I quite liked it. I liked the fact that you went to this job and you were left alone. You were left alone. You didn't have to talk to anybody, which is lovely. I didn't talk to anyone. Sat in my room. I had liked it. I liked the fact that you went to this job and you were left alone. You were left alone. You didn't have to talk to anybody, which is lovely. Didn't talk to anyone.

Sat in my room, had lovely food, drinks brought to me all day long, and then you just nip out, get your bush on, have a little sing song and go home. Yeah, it is good, isn't it? Because you didn't have to talk to anyone. It was really, I really loved it. And it was in my break, so it was when I did Borders. Yes.

I had my documentary going on and then this come up. I can't believe you had the time to do all of this. Well, I didn't. I did it all with not many days off at all. Oh, my God. Well, as you were saying, Borders, for starters, is coming back for a second series. So we've got the utter joy of watching, you know,

a second series of a show which we absolutely love. We loved it, didn't we? But this time around, Miss Natalie Cassidy is starring in it. Oh my God, I've been seeing you in all of the clips and everything. What are you playing? I'm playing an eccentric maths teacher

called Sharon Hale. Oh my God. And she's very passionate about maths and doesn't really like the fact that the private school come in to her comprehensive school and they shouldn't have a chance. So she's really, you know, a go-getter, very passionate. I was only there for

a couple of days, but it was so lovely. What are all the guys like? What are they like? Absolutely amazing. I've never been on a floor with such professionalism. You couldn't hear a pin drop. Yeah, it was really, really amazing place to work. Yeah.

And it all really came from the pod, the power of the pod. The power of the pod. It was one, I think it was in our first episode, one of our very, very, very first shows. Very first or second. Yeah, you're absolutely right. And the director got in touch with me and said, oh, I've got this little part.

Well, firstly, he thanked us for the pod and said, oh, I'm so pleased you liked it because Because we gave him a good bit of press. Yeah. And then, yeah, we chatted and, yeah, came up with this little part of Sharon. Brilliant. So it was lovely. And you know I like the odd cameoing things. Yes.

I do like the odd cameo. And she's quite funny. So, yeah, really enjoyed it. Well, I can't wait to see you in that again. It's on BBC Three and iPlayer. Yeah. So I'm going to be tuning in definitely. And I can't wait to watch the whole series because I loved it so much.

Well, it's nice that it's the second series now because we really enjoyed it, didn't we? Now, we all know that it's the EastEnders 40th anniversary next week. Yep. So this is our very first EastEnders special celebrating some of the show's most iconic moments. And my God, there are a lot. There are a lot.

A lot over the years there are i just can't when i think of 40 years of eastenders you know you look at ian beal god yeah um and adam still there now you know adam rudgett yeah you know we've got michelle collins cindy you've got some real iconic people there at the moment god it makes me feel really emotional because it makes you think about your life over the last 40 years. I know. And where you were and what was happening to you. We all remember these iconic moments.

I know. But it takes you back to being younger and where you were in your life when all of this was going on and you remember it. I feel very privileged to be a part of this 40th anniversary. It's a real honor and it feels very exciting and there's lots of people celebrating it so yeah it's super exciting yet very nerve-wracking god it must be i feel emotional goodness knows what you must feel like

it's very nerve-wracking so what sort of stuff is east end is going to be doing because you've got the hour longer but haven't you got a bit where the audience can sort of interact so you've got the hour-long episode. Haven't you got a bit where the audience can sort of interact? So you've got the next... So next week, you have your Monday, your Tuesday. There's an hour-long special on the Wednesday and then we go live on the Thursday. Oh, my God! And there's going to be a vote involved so the public get to choose who Denise gets to be with.

Oh, my God, that's so exciting! Yeah. How do we do that? Jackal Ravi. I think it's going to come up after the hour-long episode on the Wednesday, I believe. Yes.

I'm not too au fait with it. So they have got to be good to go on basically either way. Oh my God. Two storylines. Okay, that's terrifying. As an actor, I don't know how I would feel. I'd be nervous enough about the live

coming up on the Thursday, but on the Wednesday, to not even know yet who you're going to be with. So they're not going to know, well, that's exciting. It will be really exciting. Yeah. Really, really good.

Oh, my God. Yeah. It's like flipping Christmas all over again. There's a lot going on, honestly, Jo. I mean, how is it at work at the moment? Are you stressed? Because you're dealing with it pretty good. Because if it was me, I'd be in here and I'd be just like...

No, I feel very... When I'm nervous be just like... No, I feel very... When I'm nervous and when I'm stressed, I go very quiet. I go the other way. I do a lot of yawning when I'm nervous. I get really tired. It really drains me. And that is how I feel. But I shall kick into action.

Oh, my God. So it's not only the live episode that we've got to look forward to. We've got cracking episodes all week. Honestly, all week. But I'm not just... I episode that we've got to look forward to, we've got Kraken episodes all week. All week. Honestly, all week. But I'm not just... I would never just sell something. You know I wouldn't.

It really is quite amazing what they've achieved. And it's a first, really, isn't it, for, like, such a huge celebration to actually go, right, come on, audience, you were going to be a part of it too. Yeah. We've got a choice. And that choice will always stick. So, you know.

We... So for the rest of History, we're the senders. You are choosing. We are saying what history is going to be like. You are writing a story, basically. You're choosing the story. I'm really excited. I know.

I'm really excited. You've got to tell me who you vote for. Oh, my God. Because I can't make my mind up. Oh, my God. Because even now, you know, watching it. Yes. I don't know.

Because she's so brilliant. Denise is brilliant. And I'm like, oh, watching it. Yes. I don't know. Because she's so brilliant. Denise is brilliant. And I'm like, oh, but it's the history with Jack and the family unit and brilliant. And then she's with Ravi. And I'm like, go on, girl. You're, you know, you've got this new Lisa life. You're amazing. Oh, my head's frazzled.

I don't know who to pick. Oh my God. So they've written it really, really. I just, I don't know which way it'll go. Yes. It's brilliant. Oh God, that is exciting. And we're going to find out also who's hit Cindy over the head with a shovel that happens at Christmas.

That all comes out. You know, there's lots of things, humdingers, big moments. Oh, my, yeah. So are we going to, is there going to be lots revealed? Loads, loads. Oh, God, this is really exciting. And I can't believe that I get to be like being here with you. I know.

And like try and get it out of you, even though you're not telling me anything. I don't know what I'm going to do when we record next week. I might not be able to speak by then. Oh, my God. Because it will be four days away. Oh, my God, you will. Yeah, surely you'll be nervous by then. You might be completely mute.

I may not be able to talk. You might have to carry it for me. You might have to just write it down and I'll carry the pod. I'll carry the pod. Thank you, Jo. You'll have other things on your mind. Thank you. If you want me to go over any lines with you

or anything like that for the live, don't worry, I'm fine. I can keep a secret. I'm fine if you want me to go over stuff with you. Clever. Clever. You ain't going to get a look. I tell you what,

my mother's already been going, is she going to die? Is she going to die? Find out, is she going to die? What's going on? I'm like, I don't know, Mum. She won't tell me anything. She's got to wait and see.

It's not long now. Not long now. Not long now. So with all the hype and the excitement and fun of the 40th, I've got my sister to see you. Oh, my God. I don't know if I'm going to be able to be normal just sat in between the pair of you.

I can't believe it. We've got Patsy Palmer on. Bianca Jackson. We've got Bianca. We've got Bianca.. We've got Patsy Palmer on. Bianca Jackson. We've got Bianca. We've got Bianca. We're talking to Patsy Palmer. She's amazing and also she's got incredible hair. She has got amazing hair. Like a lion's mane. I know.

Oh my God. She's given you one of her hair masks. She's just given me a hair mask and I would just like to say she's the most wonderful woman. She's got such a wonderful aura and energy about her. Well, you've only said hello and had a quick cup of tea with her. Shall we get her in? Get her in now.

You can grill her. Get her in now. My lovely Patsy. Oh, my gosh. I can't believe I'm sitting in between you two. I mean, this is like, this is just insane. It's the two of you. We're on a boat.

On a cruise. Having dinner. I wish we were on a boat. On a cruise. Having dinner. I wish we were on a cruise. I know. I know. Thank you for coming in and doing this though. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much for asking. Oh my God.

It's like a dream. It's so lovely chatting to you. Sitting and having a chat. First of all, can I just say, the tribute that you wrote to Nat on Instagram was so beautiful and so moving. It was just absolutely gorgeous

tell me about your history you know what when I write things on my Instagram I write at that moment so anything I've ever written is comes I might wake up at five o'clock in the morning and write something and it just comes out and I have to do it I find Instagram a beautiful platform to be able to do that on I should write more in notebooks I write a lot anything it just comes to my head it wouldn't be edited only the spellings but even my spellings are not edited lately I'm just like and anything that's in my head I just like to get it out but it's if I want to share it with people yeah which is mainly everything I do on Instagram actually it's what I'm going through or what I need to hear and and I was looking at some Natalie did a lovely piece about leaving and I saw some stuff that people were writing about her leaving and I just thought

god you know I've known her for such a long time and she's such a brilliant actress and even since the day she started EastEnders she's always been like this little like I always just think of Natalie like this. Like, you know what I mean? Like a mini little Mona Lisa. Yes. Like, she used to be so observant as a kid. So she'd be sitting, and her mum was, like, chatty-chatty like us. So she'd be all chatty, wouldn't she? And Natalie would always just be sitting, taking it all in.

Yes. And when you say that, she takes everything in. She'll be a brilliant filmmaker or director or something when she's older. And then everyone would be having a meeting and then it would be end and she'd go, excuse me, can I just ask a question? And she'd ask the most intelligent question in the room. Yeah. You know, and everyone would just be like, yeah, go on, Nat, you know.

Because they're all very supportive there. Everyone always has been. It's lovely, isn't it? All the actors and crew. But you've got to remember, I was 10. God. So I had Patsy to look up to, you know. I was so lucky to have that.

And what she wrote about picking me up or being friendly with my mum, obviously, who's no longer with me. And it's lovely to have people in your life that did know your parents, you know, that she's a part of that history. Yeah. It means so much. It is family. And we went to Anna Sher's and nobody really understands that journey.

That was an amazing journey for all of us kids. Very moving. How long were you there for? Is it like a school and you do like acting lessons as well? So imagine a hall. It was a charity. And you could go in, rock up with a, well, for me it was two quid. What was it?

50 pence. My God. So anyone could go and you'd put your money in a pot and then you'd just have this hour and a half, two hours of just the most amazing learning from this one woman. But your name would be down for two years. So there was a two year waiting list. That's how many kids wanted to go. There wasn't anything for young kids from where we came from. My mum couldn't afford to send me to Sylvia Young.

So I wanted to go to an acting or singing, dancing because I wanted to do that, but I couldn't do that. She couldn't afford it. And that's fair enough. Lots of mums couldn't afford it. But there were lots of kids that wanted to sing and dance and act. But it wasn't for us. So what Anna did was she created the drama school for children

that came from working class families. But she had very strict rules. And it was an amazing, she was the best teacher that I've ever had. I didn't learn anything in school, nothing. She taught me everything. And she was very hippie. She was Irish Jewish. She used to talk a lot about her history, about her childhood, didn't she?

She was very clever. She read a lot. She lived in Islington. She was friends with all these amazing film directors and, you know, brilliant. And she taught every single class herself. And she did the same thing, though, every class. So we went in in the morning. Not in the morning.

It was after school. So it wasn't a school. Everybody went to school. I didn't go to school, whatever they did. But you had to be on time. You had to be professional. We were allowed to swear a little bit. She let us in if it was appropriate.

Freedom of speech. She liked to promote freedom of speech to us. So she would let us swear, but only if it was appropriate for the scene but all the kids were just desperate to swear so you know she just had this level of authority that wasn't like a teacher because she had no problem in telling you you were out that was what it was she didn't have an issue with the word no so if you were out you're out and we knew that yes no second chances yes that's where we i think that's where we got our without doubt our professionalism and time keeping from very good you could not be late you could not be late

you wouldn't come get in yeah they locked the door the doors you wouldn't get in they locked the doors and you were panicked if it was a a real reason, you were panicked. You wanted to get there, you know. And she just did the same thing in every class. I was there from when I was nine until I was 21. Oh, my God. Every week. And do you now still use the things that she taught you in your acting? I think so.

Probably in our acting, it was all improvisation. She never brought a script out. Her husband sometimes came in and tried to do a bit of script stuff with us, but I think they knew it was a wasteation she very well she never brought a script out as her husband sometimes came in and tried to do a bit of script stuff with us but I think they knew it was a waste of time really yeah a lot of the kids couldn't even read I mean it was a really she really gave kids a chance that would not have got a chance to do yeah what we do yeah god you two have just got such an incredible history together and when you think about when you first came into EastEnders, the pair of you, you know, like in the same family,

I mean, what does that feel like? I mean, can you remember all of the different iconic moments that you've had? All of the, like, the Bianca, what are your favourite? What are your favourite? There's so much, like, it's insane because there's, like, so much history that I don't even know where to begin. We were created by Tony McHale, weren't we? Yeah.

He came to Anna's. Yeah. Oh, my God, what happened? And do you remember, did you read your name on the list for the audition? So I remember reading that I wasn't on the list because I was 21, you had to be 16. And, like, if there were auditions in Anna's, you'd go into your class, there'd be a list.

So these are all the auditions today. So say, like, Nina Gold was coming in in so she'd have all casting directors come in and they'd sit in the classes and they'd be casting for things so you'd have a a film uh I don't know a Mike Lee or something and then another tv show being made and you'd have the list of all the kids that were being looked at yes but we'd all still do the class so you'd get very excited if you were have the list of all the kids that were being looked at. Yes. But we'd all still do the class. So you'd get very excited if you were on the list because you'd go, oh, God, I might get something today. And she was our agent as well.

Yeah. And it wasn't a money thing. When you say that, she wasn't our agent because she wanted to make money out of anyone. She was our agent because she wanted us to be protected. Yes. She's the most, how they've not made a film about and i would never know yeah she's an incredible incredible human being so what happened and then tony mccall came

this day but i wasn't on the list and i was messing about i remember it so well with melissa wilson sitting there messing around as i do never shut up you know and she told me off and then they said oh no we'd like to see her and as anna did i always remember know and she told me off and then they said oh no we'd like to see her and as Anna did I always remember it she was told me off one minute and then they went we'd like to see her and she went oh darling brilliant like that she could switch oh my god and so when they asked to see you what did you do what did you have to do we would have to get up and do an improvisation so she'd give you a first line. So say she said, okay, Joanna, get up and say,

I don't want to be your friend anymore. So you would have to either speak to a head on a box. Yeah. And you'd have an argument or whatever with that person. However you wanted to play it. But it was all improvisation. And then what I loved what she did is she turned the head around. And I think this is a brilliant thing for kids

and I've always wanted to do this. And then she turned the head around so you would be the person that was coming at it from the other perspective. Oh, wow, yes, yes. She would do a lot of stuff like that. Or you'd do little plays. And we read a lot of poetry as well. Yeah, a lot of poetry.

Lots and lots of poetry. My love of poetry comes from her. So much stuff. Yeah, good at poems. Always been good at writing poems. That's from there. Yeah. So what was it like when you first, you know, started in EastEnders?

I mean, when you first, you know. It was really exciting. I loved it. What was it like when you first met as well and the family was being formed? Well, we already knew each other. So we were really happy that we were there together. So we already knew each other. We were like, oh God, we got the job.

Oh my God. So you already had like that chemistry and sort of family sort of feel anyway. Yeah, for sure. More than anybody else. Yeah. Yeah. And I think we were so used to it that it wasn't, it didn't really phase us, did it? I think because we loved EastEnders.

It's where we were from you know it's like i always said if i got any standards i would all i would be really good in it i always used to say that as a kid i want to get in this because i'm from bethnal green i'm from the east and i say this is not like the east end you know if i got in it i'd tell him yes and i've had many my god so what have been you've had so many just like, you know, momentous storylines and amazing stuff to do. I mean, you're such like, you just, I just look at you and you're, well, the pair of you, and you're such strong, amazing actresses.

You're rangers. Well, EastEnders is like doing 200 films. Yeah. You get the chance to play so many different roles within that character. Obviously, you have to keep it in that remit. But you do get the chance to play a million different things. My favourite, I think, has to be, it was explosive, the Bianca Dan Carol triangle. It was explosive, the Bianca-Dan-Carol triangle.

It was explosive. Yes. Amazing, amazing story. Yeah. But then the love story between Ricky and Bianca was always so beautiful. And the other day you brought up, which I'd totally forgotten about, Bianca losing a child. Yeah.

Isn't it crazy? Yeah, that was traumatic. Oh, that must have been. That was traumatising. That she had to go through that whole pregnancy and then act out giving birth, having the baby and it being not surviving. So that was a whole thing.

I think they do those storylines really well. Yeah, they do. But I know Natalie would agree, but our favourite thing to do always is just being in the kitchen. Is it? That is our favourite. That's what we love. Is it?

Any time we're in that kitchen, people would moan being in the same set all day. We love it. We'd be in there for a year. I wouldn't go anywhere else. I would not go to any other part of the set. What is it about being in the kitchen and just chatting together? Just because you can really get into what you love doing. It gives you time.

We don't have any time there. We don'tarse so we go in read our scene they show the cameras and we do it oh my god so say you are doing say you're in the middle of like a huge storyline and it's amazing yeah two weeks ago we had with our lovely director richard lynn we give a mention because he's brilliant so patsy we've fortunately because we get on and we do because that's you know that's the other thing when you are friends you go you've got a lot so patsy you know we sit and we work together yes um but you don't you have to put that work in when you're not on set there isn't any time but i think we had 12 scenes in one day so what's that roughly three pages it's probably 40 pages oh my god for the day but we loved it because it was just me just us

two yeah all day and went through a lot of emotions and it was a lot of sister stuff i haven't got a sister she hasn't got a sister you know so we've got brothers grow up with older brothers so yeah it's nice to have sisters and we can play out what we see of our friends that are sisters brilliant you know sisters fight and sisters make up and sisters do all that and it's foreign to me yes so it's great to be able to play that we enjoy it even with my nieces like you say it's a different relationship whereas i watch them two and you can't they go at each other and fight and then they're as good as gold five minutes later because you read it sometimes and you're like oh no i wouldn't say this like say this. Like, I would never be like, I couldn't do this.

And then you're like, but you've got to remember that's what sisters are like. Well, yeah, it is, isn't it? Yeah. Did you realise, you know, and just purely as actresses, when you first started, and I mean, you both were, like, really young, but when you first started, did you realise, were you like, oh, my God, I'm going into EastEnders?

Well, I didn't because I was 10. Yeah. My mum and dad didn't watch EastEnders. We watched Coronation Street at home. They wouldn't watch it. So I just remember going there and going, well, this is really good. And I remember the day of my audition,

there was all I remember is this queue down Borehamwood High Street, like Beatlemania almost, but it was because Take That were there. This was 93. Yeah. So it was the height of kind of Take That. And I remember driving in going, oh, my God, I've got in before all these people who are queuing up.

And I just remember feeling, wow, I'm going into this building where people are queuing up. And that's what my memory was, really, not about the show, just thinking, oh, this is special. Yeah. I don't think I personally never knew, you never know how long something's going to last, do you? Mm-mm. oh, this is special. Yeah. I don't think I personally never knew. You never know how long something's going to last, do you?

Mm-mm. So for me, it was just getting out of school. Brilliant not going to school. A couple of days a week, going to this magical sort of playground to talk to adults and meet people and have a bit of fun. Yeah. But I'm sure it was different for Patsy because she was 21. Oh, God, I was in Elstree Film Studios since I was 12 doing Grange Hill so yes I've been in that place yeah for my whole life

so to me I knew I was going to the same building that I've been to for years and other BBC things I'd worked for the BBC for a long time and um so there was that it was like oh it's back here why does it have to be filmed in here you know why can't it be somewhere different so there was that. It was like, oh, it's back here. Why does it have to be filmed in here? Why can't it be somewhere different? So you had that familiarity. I went in actually just wanting to buy a green Ford Fiesta. Really? And they told me that I had three months,

a three-month contract as this character. And all I could think of was, and I didn't tell him I had a kid because I had a little boy. I was young. I was playing a 16-year-old anyway, but Charlie would have been two. Yeah. So I didn't tell him I had a kid so I had a little boy I was young I was playing a 16 year old anyway but Charlie would have been two yeah so I didn't tell them that I had a kid because you couldn't I thought I'm not going to get it if I tell him I've got a baby they'll never give me the job being a woman and having a baby no I just thought they'll never give it so I didn't tell

them and I just thought I'm not if I can get a green Ford Fiesta I won't have to put the car chair in it's so annoying having to and obviously I didn't have money you know single mum in East London like fabulous now like you look back like wow what a crazy life but I love every part of it now even though it was could have been hard at times but I don't want to you know it's like it's amazing like it's like my life it's amazing and um I just remember thinking I'm not gonna have to get that annoying car chair in and out of the two-seater and I've got the Ford Fiesta and many other cars yeah how I mean how the hell did you cope with that having a little two-year-old and then trying you know to like get in that role and acting that and then the character becomes so popular.

Oh, it was amazing for me because it was like winning the lottery from being a single mum to having a wage like that. It was like literally someone had given me a lottery ticket. And also... Changed everything for me. What she won't say, because I think it's hard to say yourself, is Soap, back in 1993, 4, 5, 66 it was 20 million people watching it yeah and ricky and bianca it was almost like she was a pop star yeah do you know i was i was reading up right it

was mad and when ricky and bianca first got married it was 22 million 22 million that day was like that day it was was mad what was it like it was crazy. 22 million people watched. That day was like... That day was insane. What was it like? What was it like? There were journalists paying people to rent their flats. They were hanging out of their windows. They were hanging out of... Off of the rooftops.

Someone nearly... There were so many of them at one point when we were trying to get out of one door... On the coach. To get on the coach to go back to the studio that they nearly ran someone over. Everyone was screaming. It was like, like what and all we were worried about was if we had our thermals on because we were freezing standing there all day waiting with our wedding dress honestly yeah I think we were just so blissfully unaware of unaware of everything did you not realize that all of that

you know was so huge I don't know what we. I honestly do not know what we were thinking. I think I was only about 12 again at the time. But it was like being with pop stars if you went out with her or Sid. God, yeah, I bet. And obviously then you had Martine because you had Tiffany. And it was just an era of they were on the front of everything. When there were the storylines and stuff, because, I mean, you've had some hugely explosive ones.

And, I mean, you know, you're with David Wex. You forget about it. And then they're just like iconic storylines. And when each one comes to a head, I remember being little and watching these and growing up with it. And it's just absolutely huge. I think the audience can remember more than we can because it's such a machine yeah and you are literally filming just one storyline it's even faster now than it was back

then we used to have a bit of time in a storyline now you're literally it's a storyline a week or some of them might carry on a little bit longer if it's a whodunit kind of thing but i think that you're just working so hard. And like Natalie said, it was a very intense. I think you're probably dealing with a lot of stuff outside in your life. You're dealing with the press continually. That level of fame was insane for such a young age. You're dealing with trying to cope, I I guess just in your own life with all the stuff that you you have to cope with which is a lot when you've in the 90s yeah it was a crazy

time there weren't any social media thank god I mean can you imagine if we had to live through all of that with a blinking phone I mean you know the thing about that is now nobody cares so much so there was a level of the intrusion from the media was like horrific really when you look back like going through your your bins and waiting out they used to just be outside my house just across the road and i used to take tea out give them a cup of tea i just feel sorry for them oh my god i just feel sorry i just think god you're out there hours it's freezing i said you want a cup of tea they go you're right pat and they got fed up with it in the end i'd say i know it's only your job you can't help it yeah you've all got kit you've all got homes you've all got kids you've all got mortgages to

pay i think i was pretty good at disarming a lot of people so they never you know i was i was a bit of a people pleaser really honestly like i shouldn't have even i should have said get away from my house but time goes so quickly yeah that's the thing does it oh yeah it's a lovely like you say it's amazing because you're just you know you're you're part of a company and part of this machine like you say you know 50 60 cast members we're all just cogs you know and you've just got to make it work and you just do it each day and you're getting through it and the emotion of it and you have fun and laughter and you're picking up the next one and you're doing the next one. But it's so continuous that two years can go by

and it feels like two weeks. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But how has it been now filming her leaving? Is it sort of like... Hang on, you. Trying to get a little bit of spoilers. About me leaving, filming me leaving. I'm leaving.

We're not filming anything. Don't worry about it. What? I see like I'm scared to say anything. I'm scared to say anything. Do you think you will cry? Because like I don't know what you filmed if you're in the middle of filming it.

I just know that Natalie Cassidy is leaving EastEnders. So are you in the middle of filming it now? Have you already filmed it? Or are you going to cry when she leaves? Or are you going to be like, just quite relaxed? Because you'll be like, well, we can now meet up and have a coffee and have some time off. I mean, what's it been like?

What can you tell me? It's just been so beautiful. We love working together. And that's the main thing. It's so, you don't realise what a gift it is. We're pitching for a sitcom. Oh, yeah, because because i mean us three actually good like the live of birds you know yeah yeah yeah i love that yeah that would actually be

really good something like that but yeah so i mean it must be we love working together so that's a big sadness you know but we always know with regards to eastenders that i'm sure i'm not sure because you do get out into life and it is magical and it's very special. And Natalie's got the most beautiful family and I would always encourage to, you know, make so much time for that. I don't think you'll ever regret that.

Also, it's never your choice. You don't know how you're going to go. I know. Do you know? Do you have any idea what you're going to do with it? No. You can make your choice to go yeah

you don't know they might just it's down to them you don't know what they're gonna do when do you find out what they're gonna do do you have to wait for the script and then you open the script

or do you have to be pulled into a meeting it's always a little bit of a risk to leave on such a big anniversary as well isn't it it must be because I mean it's like

it's the 40th because it's like you know it's like they want to do they want it to be explosive explosive yeah oh my god because I mean, it's like, it's the 40th. Because it's like, you know, it's like, have you made the, you know. They want to do, they want it to be. Explosive. Explosive.

Yeah. Oh my God. Because I mean, it is, it's the 40th and you are leaving. How did you find out? Is it when you like open the script or is it, do you go in and did they tell you? It depends really. But usually if it is a big story, be it leaving or not, you probably get a little bit of notice and have a chat with someone about it.

Oh, my God. But again, you know, the other thing I think is mad, people go, oh, you'll be there forever to anyone. Yeah. Oh, you know, you've got a job for life. I've never, ever, ever. My contract date is whenever. That's right. And I've always thought.

We're good at that. Well, I'm going now. That's it. Yeah. I could go then. Yes. You can never expect to stay somewhere like that because we're all little numbers.

We're all little pawns. We are actually numbers. I am 59. I'm number 38. Oh, what? Really? No. I am.

We are. Are you really? Yeah. Really? But we're all, you know, it's a board. Yeah. We've pawns and characters and we're not in charge. We're not in charge of how that's going to work.

One minute you're the queen on the chessboard. The next minute you're like not even on it. You go from queen, then you get down to your little pawn. Yeah, there must be like seven hives in love and you've just got to like from one minute to the next. Once you accept that they will do whatever they want, whenever they want. Yeah. Yeah. Because it is very story led. Absolutely.

And also you don't take it personally. No. Yeah. And you mustn't. You know, you must never take it personally. And I suppose just fun. Because that's why the show works. Because the stories are good.

And imagine having to, from their point of view, and me and Natalie are very professional. We're very good at always understanding no matter how, what're going through or if we you know we're good at understanding that imagine having these stories that they have had for 40 years and they still have to continually remember that whose family what the history is you know and they get it right 99.9% of the time and and if they don't ever get it a little bit right concerning a family member that was 25 years ago or a person that just popped in,

they can always rely on us as a big cast, the people that have been there. That's why it's important to have people there that have been there for a long time. Or it's important, like Chris made a great shout in bringing so many people back for the 40th because then you get all that history again in like one scene and I'm even having to look back at stuff and go oh that was why like there

was a scene there with this person and that's that's why I'm saying that that's why I feel so strongly about that you know because we forget and as actors you're an actress I don't know I always think why can't I remember anything but it's because we're so good at learning something i'm throwing it away and then it just goes i've done whole shows in the west end and i don't even know yes no honestly it would make you think that you've got something and when you're focusing on it and you know you'll have been involved in these storylines yeah and then you you have to just go you have to especially if you're a visual learner you know which we are we're like right it's done gone don't you? Especially if you're a visual learner, you know, which we are. We're like, right, it's done, gone, in the bin.

It's literally gone out of your brain. You can't remember. I've had that before where I've walked off set, done a scene, checked it, walked off and they've gone, oh, no, we've got to do it again and it's gone. Yeah, it's gone. You have to go and relearn it, re-read it. Yeah, I know what you mean.

As soon as they say it's clear, if they say we've got a pick-up, I have to say, can I have those sides again? Because I've completely forgotten. And I might have, I've learned it, I'd what you mean. As soon as they say it's clear, and if they say we've got a pick-up, I have to say, can I have those sides again? Because I've completely forgotten. And I might have, I've learned it, I'd have learned it. But because it was not done on that day, don't ask me to do it again in two weeks. I'd have to reread it all again. Yeah.

It's an amazing... It's weird, isn't it, how your brain works like that? And you know I didn't have that for 10 years. My brain chemistry completely changed. Did you find it harder coming back? Well, no, because I was going to say, within a week, the part of my brain that could learn stuff that quickly like I can, I can learn things very, very quickly.

It's so unbelievable. I was really glad that that part of my brain. Really? Can you just pick something up and just get it in there? Yeah, I'm very, very good under pressure. That's why I'm very good. If they say, right, we've got a new scene, go and learn it, I'll be, all right, I'm going to...

But I know that it will be done. And I don't really know how that would happen. Do you think it's as well that you must know your characters now? Yes. Inside out. They're in you, aren't they? They're part of your DNA, yeah. And I know Sonia.

And I know, you know, I know Sonia. I know Natalie, but I know also I know Sonia. It's very, very different. You know, I know a lot of the characters in there. And even, like, joining, I feel like I'm getting to know George and I'm getting to know Elaine as the characters. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I can quickly...

And I love the relationship that we haven't mentioned. I have to say, when I watch it as a fan, I love Bianca and Kat together. Yes. Yeah, I really do. Oh, yeah, I know Kat. Bianca and Kat. They're great friends. It's a great partnership. It really is, yeah. know kat they're great friends a great partnership it

really is we're good mates yeah quite different but very realistic i think of girls from where they come from and we've got to mention that she's still in the lockup i know oh my. I just want to say, what's going to happen? This is how we go, look. 40th anniversary coming up. You never know what they're going to do, do you? It could be a bigger surprise. Bianca's on death's door. God.

I mean, what's it been like rehearsing for the 40th? Because, you know, you're going to have the bit. How do you feel about the 40th? We've only just rehearsed. Just started. Just started, yeah. And we've got the live in, like, less than probably 14 days. Oh, my God. How do you feel about the bit? We're only just rehearsing. Just started. Just started, yeah. And we've got the live in like less than probably 14 days. Yeah, no, it is so. Have you done a read-through?

How much have you done for it? Just about. We've done a read-through. Just done it. And we've had a little bit of blocking through. Because, of course, we've had loads of other stuff to do. So we don't, our brains don't work like that. Even if I'd have had the live episode two weeks ago.

I can't look at it. I would not have been able to read it. Yeah. When I pick it up, there's more and more doodles on it than there are yes then i've actually turned the page i can't do it yeah when are you gonna go right okay i'm gonna give my mind to that now because have you got just loads of stuff coming up to it uh it's probably next week next week oh well i've got a really busy you're still very busy doing other stuff so oh my god and we've got a lot of stuff to do now coming up to the live that you don't like getting asked to do things.

Yes. We've got to go and do this and the other. Lots of promotions. Promotions and stuff. You know, fun stuff. Great stuff. Celebrating. A lot of parties coming up, you know.

Are you looking forward to the live? Anniversary party, Nat's leaving party. God. So we've got a really busy, lovely two weeks actually coming up. How do you think you'll feel during the live? Is it something, you know, that you look forward to or will you just be terrified? Yeah, she's going to be really excited.

I think now we've gone through it and I'm not going to be naughty. I keep thinking, what can I do? Throw in little bits in, you know, like when you're in a play and all that. Are you the sort of person who does that? No, I'm not. I do like it. Yeah, me too. As an actress, if you're in the theatre, that's all part of it.

She'll say that and then she's the most professional person no actually I feel like the other person on set with us I've noticed a few

she might throw a little thing to get in I was quite surprised because she's so well behaved and then when we were rehearsing the other day I thought

oh if you say that to me on the live and maybe the other person on the other side or maybe the other group over there exactly Yeah, exactly. You never know. Or maybe the other group over there. Yeah, exactly.

Oh, my God. You never know. Do you think you'll be really nervous before it starts? Yeah. And then do you think you'll just go into, like, the zone and you'll just get on with it? We have to. Like, you know, and also it's going to be no different for us than being in the studio every day because we know the crew so well.

We're all part of it. You've got to understand they're going to be probably more nervous than us because they're the ones that are responsible for filming it so everybody's in it together it's brilliant it's the best time when you feel like okay we're really all a real team we're really a team we've known each other for a long time and everyone's just rooting for each other but i will be nervous but i i that psychology is going to be funny of just don't think that's right just do what we do every day yeah yeah because I get myself really nervous sometimes and really worked up how do you deal with stuff like that we don't get really nervous in work anymore because we really know what we're doing it's more about just getting it right you know

and and not wasting anyone's time really that's what it kind of comes down to at the end of the day now which is good and bad but um but i i want to enjoy it because i think it's not often we get that sort of energy because we are always just doing it in in and out you're looking you know it's lunch get in do it it's lunch it's gonna be really lovely because yeah we've got we've got time time for runs time for rehearsal they're giving us time which is a gift never ever get that we never get it like i could do the live now yeah we've only rehearsed it once yeah and you could yeah i could have done it that i said i could do this tonight which is very strange

because that's how we work. But we're going to get a lot of time, which is going to be, like Natalie says, it's a gift and we're going to get that feeling, that buzz, that adrenaline. And I just want to enjoy that because it's brilliant. There's nothing like it. That's why we're all actors, isn't it? Because it's true, isn't it?

When you're doing a play or when you've been doing something for a while and you're used to being there and everything, you do end up relaxing, don't it? Yeah, because it's true isn't it, when you're doing a play or when you've been doing something for a while and you're used to being there and everything, you do end up relaxing, don't you? Because I mean like your first day on set on a job, it's always you're always really nervous and everything but after you've been filming for like, you know, four weeks or something, you can get your sights have a quick look through and go, alright, I know what I'm doing now

I still get very nervous I have to say, yeah especially if I've got a big speech or there's a big scene. I feel my heart really going, really pumping. It's just the way I am. I did Dot's funeral scenes. Yeah, but you've had iconic things to do that are very personal. Do you feel the pressure with that?

Because you're like, oh, my God, I'm here. Yeah, when I did Dot's funeral, I had a radio mic on and I did the whole speech and it was lovely Richard Lynn again and Richard came up to me and went, like, is that noise? He said, we can't really use that. And it was my heart. Oh my God.

It was beating so fast that sound couldn't use half of what I did. Oh my God. Because it was beating that hard. Wow. Yeah. So I do get very nervous. It does worry me. Because it was beating that hard. Wow. Yeah. Oh. So I do get very nervous. It does worry me, but I'll be all right.

I'll be fine. Yes. Well, I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait to watch it. I'm going to be so excited. We heard that everyone's, they're all getting tickets. They're going to Box Park.

Yeah, Box Park is showing it like a big football match. There's a lot of stuff going on. Loads of stuff going on. Quizzes and competitions. And I went, oh, that'll be good. Parker's showing it like a big football match there's a lot of stuff going on quizzes and competitions and I went oh that'll be good I said we want to go oh no we're in it no we want to go we were like can we go they're like no you're in it oh yeah oh my god is it exciting to be in you know because you can get nervous and you can feel like oh my god there's a pressure whatever is it just really flipping exciting that it's the 40th anniversary yeah it is exciting and a bit like oh no life's going by fast yeah whenever you go back there

life go i can't be there like for too long because life goes too fast there really this scares me i don't want my life to go so fast i love my life you know wow it's going by I'm like to I'm past the halfway mark like way past it I guess now which is very strange but um and I certainly don't want it to go so fast but I also love being in I love being there with all my friends they're the most beautiful people to work with and at the moment I think Chris has done an amazing job. Amazing job. How long are they in? How long has Chris been in? It's a bit like politicians.

It's like a president or a prime minister. It's about three years, isn't it, roughly? Usually. It's coming up. It's so weird just looking at the pair of you. Because I said before that I remember meeting Richard and Judy for the first time. And you know, there are these iconic characters know you can't even see them as like normal people

because like they are I went to Euro Disney with them I felt a bit like that you went to Disney we were with Richard and Judy yeah it was really mad why did you go to Euro Disney with them just went on a little trip and now it's like Richard and Judy they're the loveliest people so lovely Richard and Judy they were really cool they They are nice though, aren't they? They are lovely, yes. I do like the pair of them. I really like them, yeah. Yeah.

I auditioned for EastEnders years ago when I was, I think I was kind of quite early out of drama school and I can't remember now his name, fellow who then went on to be in Call the Midwife. Oh, Cliff. Cliff. Cliff Parisi. Cliff Parisi.

Yes. Minty. Minty. Yes. It was for Minty's Girlfriend. Oh, minty yes it was for minty's girlfriend yeah so it was a good few years ago and i remember being like oh my god i've got an audition for eastenders i can't believe it a lot of people have it being i mean a lot of people have auditioned for eastenders over the years and i remember going in and then i remember reading and i can't remember if i was attempting to do a cockney accent or if i went in and did it well can you do it can't remember um no i'll be used oh my god i did a cockney accent in a film once right and i and i made it up as i went along

i basically just did my like cod cockney accent right but i can't believe in the i remember in the audition if i did cockney or welsh and then i did it and they said she's no you're too like funny you're too sort of comedy-ish you know and I wasn't even trying to be funny I was just doing it and you know so obviously I didn't get the part. You'd be great in it. But I remember I was just like oh my god got an audition for EastEnders. I know I think people have always been excited that they would I do meet people they go I auditioned for it once. It's just like Amanda Holden she was on my stool like helping me like was she like Saturday Girl or something once it once it's just like Amanda Holden she was on my stool like helping me like was she like Saturday girl or something once you know it's like people do come

in and out don't they but it's so funny who's been what are your like favorite memories over the years of things that have happened or people you've worked with people that have been in and out yeah I mean I always loved it when Mike Reed was there I've got to say I mean we honestly he'd have the set literally would he I mean on the floor like and then they'd go action and you think thanks a lot like when he was in that pub it was like he was literally doing stand-up the whole time that was really fun yeah him and Barbara they were quite the pair together oh my god what was what was it like with Barbara Windsor she's lovely I remember you know, Barbara's first day, I took her for lunch.

She was, like, in the car park on her own, like, not knowing where to go, what to do. And I see her, I was like, Barbara. And I didn't know. And obviously, to me, she's like, oh, my God, Barbara Windsor. And I was like, what are you doing? She's like, I don't know where I'm supposed to be going. I said, come, let's go. And I said, what time are you supposed to be in? She was obviously 60 hours early.

Like always the pro. And I said, do you want to go and have a bit of lunch? So we had a great friendship. We all did. All the, Pam St. Clement. I mean, probably June Brown and her. Most iconic. Most iconic characters.

Two women that, fantastic actresses. Like proper old school. You don't get to sit with those actors anymore. Like Peggy, if you look at Barbara. Barbara was younger. If you look at June. She was younger than me when she came into the standards. Yeah, really?

Yeah, and she always looked like quite old fashioned with the hair and all that, didn't she? But what they crafted, and you do it, so you don't know you've done it, but these women have crafted, it's not just the character and the relationships, it's their looks. Yes. You could put, you could do a,

I always say you could do a silhouette. Yeah, and you'd be able to know who it was. And you'd be able to know who they were. And that's special, I think. Yeah, it really is. But that's not really down to us per se, it's the costume department. Yeah, it's like costumes, the whole thing. But then what you put in, what it becomes.

They then know what you will. I've never ever said no to a single Bianca costume. And it's like, I used to hate, I'd say don't, I'd be like, I can't. But I never ever said no. Whatever they put out, I put on. But it's funny because you can think of Bianca. Because they also know what they're doing. They really do they do mind don't they because you will think of your character you'll think of bianca and i can completely see her now and exactly what she looks like what she's

wearing and and it is true and you think my god eastenders has been amazing isn't it for having all of the you know all of these female characters like so many strong women and cracking lines and cracking Well actually the bosses, the bosses that do best at EastEnders, in my opinion the executive producers that come in it's like a football manager getting their team I think the best ones know that the show

is about strong women matriarchal women EastEnd was based on that you know, no matter what, there was always the women behind whatever the guy, the gangster. It's like the craze and their mum. Yeah.

You know. It is, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. When you think of the Mitchell brothers. Yeah. And Peggy. And was it,

this is so ridiculous, right? This is stupid, right? But would you ever get scared working with the Mitchell brothers? They're the softest. They're so soft. You know, when you're in a scene, would you ever get scared working with the mitchell brothers they're the softy they're so soft when you're in a scene would you ever you know like would they ever scare you or would you ever get scared and what was it like working with them and stuff they're great because they're just such big softies a pair of them yeah really brilliant actors you know like steve what he's doing right now is phenomenal oh my goodness me he's amazing Steve's such a like soft kind hearted

like huggy yes well to us I don't know I don't know to everyone yeah

I'm not sure I'm not sure to everyone I met Ross Kent when I did his quiz show he's brilliant he's actually very funny

yeah I was so surprised because I was kind of like expecting this really tough hard man I was like oh my god he's really gentle. He's so lovely. Yeah, obviously, because he's a really good actor.

But you kind of like to see these people and these characters and, you know. It's good. He's back soon. Yeah. On the screen. Grace in our presence. So that's going to be amazing. God, well, I'm so excited.

I can't wait. Obviously, all of our listeners have been really, really excited about the fact that you're coming on. And we've got lots of voice notes. Would you mind listening to them and answering some of their questions? One for when Patsy Palmer's on. It was to how long did she have to put up with people shouting Ricky at her? I have red hair, and the whole time that Ricky and Bianca were in EastEnders, I would have work vans driving past, beeping, and literally just shouting, Ricky, out the window at me,

which started off being quite funny, and then after a while, you're like, oh, no, not another one. But yeah, I think she's, as you say, she's an amazing actress, such a beautiful woman as well. So talented too. I'm sorry about that. I mean, what was that like? You know, it's really interesting because it was actually,

I think, Jonathan Ross that started that on his breakfast show. Really? Because we'd just watched it the night before and they were talking about his tenders and saying my voice you know being so loud and oh that poor Ricky and and he's I think he said it I'm sure we've discussed this and he's I'm sure it was and he just did like you know that and then they played me shouting at Sid but it's never something that Bianca has done as a joke no no it's just in a scene yeah yeah it's just that when her and Ricky argued I've got a very loud voice

you know and I do shout very loud and her character does shout very loud um and that was a good name to shout loud yeah you know so I think that it just started from that and then it just never left but now I just go you know what if you create an iconic line through not wanting it to be like that and you create a character and it's something you just have to live with it because but it does get on my neck like I'll never say it if people say to me could you just say Ricky and I say no I can't because she never said it. If people say to me, could you just say Ricky? And I say, no, I can't. Because she never said it. It was never something I said in a joke. It was just something she, I said, the only time you're going to hear me doing that is when you hear Bianca doing it.

Because it's her doing it. I was, it's not something I did. I mean, obviously years ago, probably more when I was younger, I probably did it in silly shows. But now I'm just like, no, I can't do it. Can't do it. It's been years years anyway since they've been on screen together it's just a silly thing to do I just feel funny like yeah doing it I just feel kind of silly but it is it's a bit like people shout where's your trumpet at me yeah yeah and she gets the ricky but you do have to go god you've got to be proud of that

yeah because it's stuck because you've created something and it's stuck with people and people for some reason like it i'd have no idea why they want to be shouted at by a hysterical woman at any time of life let alone just for the fun of it let's have another voice note yeah hi joe and nat and patsy oh yeah i think it's brilliant i can just voice note you um just want to say absolutely love patsy love you stenders but just when i think of patsy or bianca her character like she is just the most loyal character i love her so much and um you know like she just comedy gold but also just the most loyal character. I love her so much. And, you know, like she's just comedy gold, but also just the bits with when baby Natasha died all those years ago and being homeless in the bus stop.

I just love it because she's just real and it's just real life. Absolutely love it. And I'm really sad you're leaving EastEnders. I've only just got over danny dyer leaving but you know best of luck you have to do what's right for you and for your family and just best of luck to you all i love the pod it literally just oh it gives me so much joy i love listening to it um and yeah all the best to you all love you lots oh isn't that lovely that people can send voice notes yes it's really nice isn't it i didn't like all they could do was send fan letters and used to

get black sacks loads of them and you can't really ever connect look at every no you haven't got that connection it's lovely now isn't it with that that they can because you get a feel, you can hear someone. Yeah. Oh, thank you. But, oh, my gosh, this has just been absolutely incredible. She's so magical, isn't she? I hope I've done the pair of you justice because I just keep on, like, just looking at the pair of you and there's so much to, like, ask. But you kind of can't even think of all of it

because I think the pair of you are just such amazing actresses. Well, all I can say is it's an honour to have Patsy on our pod. It is. And that she's had time to do it, so thank you, sis. Yeah, thank you so much. And no one will ever really know what it's like to be on set and stand next to someone, beside someone, and learn from them. And they're completely unaware of how brilliant they are.

So you just sort of soak up all of her talent all the time and she makes it look so easy but it isn't easy and she's just absolutely amazing. Oh, I think just seeing the friendship and the relationship that you two have got and then what you wrote about her is so moving

and it's just gorgeous and I wish the pair of you the best of luck with the 40th collectively talk about our masked experiences oh yes two masked singers and i was a masked dancer because i was too scared to sing or anything was your mask i was the mask dance i was the pig i was voted out second. I was first. First one and the first ever masked singer in this country.

Oh, my God. Are you serious? I was the first out. I was a butterfly. Flew out. So happy. Can't tell you. I was so glad that I was out.

How did you feel? I loved doing it, but I was glad I was out. I was glad I was out of that mask. Oh, my. This is so... I'm really sorry. I've had to lie to you. I can't believe it. I know. You were brilliant. Would you ever tell is so... I'm really sorry I've had to lie to you. I can't believe it.

I know, you were brilliant. I don't know if you ever tell me again. I'd probably go on the traitors. I'd be good on the traitors, wouldn't I? Are you on traitors? Yes. No, but I'd be good because I've lied to her for six... She's lied to me.

She's lied to me. I know. You can do that being in EastEnders though. You get very good at going like this. You must, yeah. Yeah. Or changing the subject very quickly. Yeah.

But that mask, when it goes on, it's suffocating.'re nice they're on there they're the best so nice yeah perhaps you both managed to like sing because i remember dancing and i was like like literally about to pass out i loved it in the fact that you could just be like just sing you know like not like the greatest singer but love singing yeah but i i was gutted that I went out a bit out of tune on the on the thing and I was gutting because in the rehearsal it was perfect yeah oh well I'm sure you've heard I mean my voice was just shaking oh my god it was no you were brilliant actually really good but I thought the thing with the show when I went on it's like it's not a competition that's what I liked about it but it kind of was because there was I didn't know that there was going to be the butterfly and the unicorn we're going to have to have a sing-off oh I didn't know that yes so I didn't I just thought

it was that they have to guess whose voice and if you if they don't guess you've done your job and they didn't guess me and I thought oh job. Oh, I see. And they didn't guess me. And I thought, oh, this is brilliant. I'm winning this game because they're not guessing me. And that was the hardest thing because we've got quite recognisable voices, all of us, you know. Well, dancing. Yeah. But, yeah, no, I really enjoyed it.

But I must say, yeah, I was glad. Well, I had another song I did want to sing. It was Randy Crawford and I was enjoying rehearsing that I would have been looking forward to singing that yeah but oh my god it's a mad experience

isn't it crazy yeah crazy it's like really it's like you're dreaming it's like a mad dream isn't it it is

I like so such an amazing time in my life of not from going from not wanting to act anymore and then being able to be a butterfly

brilliant and singing it was quite spiritual yeah I thought if I do it this is the first thing i've done on telly in ages like ages and i'm coming into this butterfly i had this whole thing as i want to be a butterfly then i want to try and see if i can get that confidence back singing behind this mask i'm not having to put myself out there but is it going to give me the confidence back that i need to go i feel like it helped me yeah i do think well in terms of the nerves yeah yeah yeah because i was so nervous but now i'm proud of myself and i think if i can do that exactly and also then you take

the mask off and you're singing to the audience what does that feel like because i remember thinking i would be very nervous i loved it i actually love singing i want to be like in a band like i now want to be a singer yeah yeah I'd love to be in the Albert Hall, properly giving it. Now I'm too old to do it. I wish I'd have done it. No, you're not. You're not.

No, you're not. But you know what I mean? You get to that point, you're like, I wish I'd have been a singer when I was young. Loved it. I did try a little bit sometimes,

but you know. But it's weird, because I thought when the hair came off, I would be really scared and thinking, oh God, everyone's going to see me now. But it's weird because suddenly you see everybody around you.

It was quite liberating, wasn't it? Yeah. I found it quite liberating. You had a cracking voice. Yeah, you got a good voice. I thought it was really good. You sang and everything. You were, like, so strong.

Oh, don't. You were a proper flipping singer. No. Well, you were. Bump up the pant, I say. Kate Bush. Because, see, that track I found on Instagram, what a disco track

oh my god and I remember that from when I was a kid and my mum used to say you're not allowed to listen to that she just sent me the song

what is it push push in the bush and it's like a real disco 70s a really and I thought that's another good one

I'm going to play when I'm DJing now I found it I hadn't heard it since I was a kid I wasn't allowed to listen to it got a slightly, you know,

inappropriate connotation, should I say, from back in the 70s. Yeah. I wouldn't be allowed now, but I had to put it on because it was perfect. The little bush.

It was brilliant. The cutest little bush. It was good though because now it's like the clues were really hard, weren't they? Yeah, they were. Why were there so many clues? They dig right back, don't they? They dig right back and then they focus on something. You think, I did a documentary in Australia 25 years ago

and you focused on Australia. Everyone's thinking right down under. I know. And they just take... There was a lot of food things, no? Was there something about sushi? Oh, there was some food stuff. Was there?

Yeah. Yeah, there was like... I mean, I don't even know what the clues meant. Yeah, and there was loads of gardening stuff. There was a lot of gardening. But that was just

because I was a bush. Because you was a bush. Everyone was saying, Charlie Dimmock. Because the kids loved the little bush, didn't they? Yeah, they did. The little kids.

That was such a cute one. Yeah, she was cute. She was cute. And the kids loved her. Now you cute one. Yeah, she was cute. She was cute. And the kids loved her. Now you'll be coming out in panto every Christmas as the bush. You will. That's what I said.

Camouflage. Camouflage. Yeah. Brilliant. I'll do it. Yeah, exactly. They all thought it was I'm a celebrity jungle because of the bush.

Oh, yeah. Of being in the bush. But I've not done that yet either. Oh, there you go. So there you go, everyone. I'm up for anything. You know, Maeve, if I've got a tax bill to. Oh, there you go. So there you go. I'm up for anything. You know me, if I've got a tax bill to pay,

I'll be there. I love it. So honest. Yes. It's the best, isn't it? Yes. It's the best. I love it.

That was really exciting. That was very good. Well, I'm going to have to cut you off, Jo. Yeah. Because we've got rehearsals to do. I'm going to meet Kermit the Frog. I know. Are you off to meet Kermit now?

Yeah. Gonzo, Kermit and Zippy and Bungle. Oh, my God. That isn't a joke. There's a puppetry show. No, I am. I'm going. She's not lost the plot. Maybe I'll invite her and meet just really randomly.

And are you going to be allowed to just, will you talk to them? Will you talk to them? I was going to say, can't we do a little Kermit thing like my dreams when I wish I was on The Muppets when Goldie Hawn was on it and all that when I was a kid in the 70s. If I don't get some photos later

I'm going to be devastated. You've got to send me some photos. Yeah. Roll over it. Brilliant. Oh, thanks girl. Really has been joyful. Oh, good. Thank you. She's a star. Yeah. Oh, Jo, did you enjoy

that? Oh my God, that was amazing chatting to Patsy. She's fantastic. Isn't she a special human? She really is. She's just so calm and she's so lovely. And she's just, but she's really interesting. I could have just sat and listened to her. I just wanted to, like, tell me stuff.

And I just want to sit and I just want to, like, catch up and just listen to her. I know. She's really special. She's lovely. And she doesn't realise how iconic she is. No, she doesn't. She's so generous.

And she's really like, she's just got just like the most lovely aura about her. And when you do think just how iconic and incredible, she's just such a cracking actress. And everything that she's gone through as Bianca over the years. Oh, I know. Amazing. Like these massive storylines and stuff. And she's just there and she's just so like. I know.

I would love to see Patsy play a lawyer. Yeah, God, she'd be brilliant. I would love to see her in something else. Yeah, she'd be really good. That's kind of... I don't know, I can just see her in a really sharp suit with all her hair. Yeah.

Because you're obsessed with hair, I'm obsessed with her hair. I don't really care about other people's hair, but her hair I'm obsessed with. Yeah. Yeah. I think it's just that she's just like like she's like this lioness yeah i think she sees she's you know she gives this aura that i feel like she's just got this wonderful womanly power in her and with her lion's mane i think she's fab oh my god that was just amazing i sat in between the pair of you and it was like oh my god and there were moments when i had to sort of go right in my head sort yourself out now because it was just all a bit

like oh my god there's so much i want to ask the pair of you but i'm kind of just completely fan girl honestly you were absolutely brilliant and she would have loved it or i'll talk to her tomorrow when we're on set just fab oh my god when we're on set it was just like you're both in east enders oh my god you're both in east enders but Oh my God. You're both in EastEnders. But let us know. Send us some voice notes. We hope you really enjoy this one. Send us some voice notes. Let us know what you thought about it. Yeah. Because we enjoyed

it. And thanks, Pat. You're an angel. Thank you. We've had so many voice notes from everybody. It's so lovely. I know we say it all the time. But it's fab. It's really nice and we've got our own community now. Yeah, absolutely. I love it. I feel we say it all the time. But it's fab. It's really nice. And we've got our own community now. Yeah, absolutely. I love it. I feel like everyone's really enjoying it.

And we've got a little space now and a little community, like you say. So we can't thank you enough. But shall we get a few in? Yes. Hi, Natalie. Hi, Joanna. It's Emma from Doncaster here. First of all, absolutely love you guys on the podcast. If it's not Gavin and Stacey or EastEnders,

it's all the stuff that we're talking about day in, day in the office so thank you so much for doing such a fab show um Natalie I cannot believe you are leaving EastEnders I'm an 80s child too so I kind of feel like I've grown up watching Sonia on a trumpet going through the years on EastEnders and it's going to be an absolute devastation to not see her on the square but definitely one of my favorite moments is probably I think it was a Christmas episode episode when you found the iconic pauline fowler dead on the square and basically blamed yourself because you thought it was you that had done that to her so what an iconic episode two amazing characters on christmas day thank you so much for all the years of enjoyment i can't wait to continue to listen to you on here and see what you do next bye oh thank you so much yeah i do i do remember that yeah it was yeah incredible wendy and i got

on so well she was amazing wendy richard and um yeah i remember her leaving story and because i'd hit i'd smacked around the head in the episode before or two before, I think. And Sonia blamed herself, you know, thought she'd killed her. God. There's been some big stories. There's been some huge stories. Are you exhausted

by the end of the day when you go back home after filming stuff like that? Yeah. Or can you just drop it? No, shattered. Oh. Yeah, really tired.

It's time for a rest, Jo. Let's have another voice note. Hi, Natalie and Joanna. It's Stacey here. And when I was younger, year one to year three, in the playground, we used to always play EastEnders. So I used to always be Stacey. I mean, she's iconic. My friends used to be Martin and Kat. And we would basically just play, like, the slaters, basically. And then we would do the iconic scene between Zoe and Kat.

Like, you ain't my mother. Yes, I am. And, yeah, so EastEnders just brought me very, very good memories. And I just love it. And I still watch it now, obviously. I know what you mean. Yeah. Great to play EastEnders in the playground.

Yeah. It's just, it's mad, isn't it, that there are lines, You ate my mother, yes I am. Yeah. It's just, and you just can hear them. Yeah. Amazing lines that have been written throughout the years incredible wow 40 years 40 40 god yeah it's gonna be so good it is are you excited no i can't tell you how good it is. Oh, my God. I urge people to not just watch the live episode.

But if you haven't, if you've not watched EastEnders for ages, just start this week. Right, yes. Just start. Doesn't matter. Start now and watch the next two weeks unfold. Oh, my God. It is really worth doing.

It is. It's really clever and everyone's worked so hard and lots of things are going to come to a head and it it is really good oh my god i can't wait yeah can we have another voice note hello um i thought i'd message you of my iconic scenes from reestenders um obviously well not obviously my favorite to this day i actually re-watched it this christmas on youtube was um when the brannians found out about the affair between stacy and max still got me still got me even though i knew it was going to happen that was amazing um a funny one my earliest eastenders memory was um joe swashy's little sister at the

time demi she had a baby which she named alicia after alicia keys beyonce after obviously beyonce miller ran away with a baby with a partner at the time and it all just went wrong and um yeah i used to reenact that in the school playground for some reason. Don't know why. I think it's probably the most shocking thing I'd seen at the time. And then lastly, just as an anecdote as well from my childhood, my brother and I, we used to play the EastEnders alphabet game, which consisted of taking it in turns to go through the alphabet to name EastEnders characters.

So, for example, A would be Baby Alicia, B would be Bianca, C would be Charlie, D would be Dot. So, yeah, taking it in turns just to pass the time. So, yeah, good fond memories. Well, that is brilliant. Great game. E, Ethel. Your go.

Yeah. Oh, F. I can't think of it. Frank. E, F. Frank. G. Gary. H. I can't think of anyone beginning with H.

Give me a clue. Harvey. Well done. I. I. Anyway, that's a really good game Moving on Moving on Next voice note

I actually remember this from being young When Sonia had her baby And I remember that being Such a shocking storyline And when Jamie died Oh there's so many isn't there I say there's two, died, oh, there's so many, isn't there? I say there's two, there's three, there's four, there's a hundred. But it's so good.

How old were you when you had to give birth? Fifteen. Flipping heck! Were you nervous? How did you do it? No, not really. I wasn't, actually. Why?

Because I think when you're young, you don't think. Yeah. I think you do. Yeah. And I just did Yeah. I think you do. Yeah. And I just did it. Oh my god. Did you speak to someone beforehand? Yeah, we had some advice and a midwife there, you know, giving you some

advice about things. But she didn't know she was pregnant so it was all a complete shock. So like, so how did what was your thinking then? How did you deal with that? Well, just the pain and the panic of it all. I just thought that Sonia was dying. Yes. So I'd say, I'm dying, I'm dying.

But it was all written so well. It was written beautifully, you know. And didn't you say that June Brown told you just to imagine doing a big poo? She said it's like pooing a melon. Oh. Yeah. Oh, my God. I remember doing the, I'm dying, I'm dying, and Big Mo saying, you ain't dying, sweetheart, you're having a baby. Oh, my God. I remember doing the, I'm dying, I'm dying,

and Big Mo saying, you ain't dying, sweetheart, you're having a baby. Oh, my God. Yeah, I remember it really well. Jesus, I remember that. It just gives me goosebumps. Oh, my God, Sonia's adorable. She's so lovely.

There was a big thing to be given as well. Because, you know, you are a child and you're sort of carrying the episodes. And I look back and, you know, I was given some really good opportunities being that age. Yes. It was good. Oh, my God. That's incredible.

What an incredible just bit. You're not dying. You're having a baby. Oh, my God. Yeah. And it happens a lot, you know, to people. It does. Mine doesn't.

It really does. And now when I've heard people or I get a message from someone on Instagram or whatever, they call it, you know, I've done a Sonia. My God. Or doing a Sonia is having a baby. Yeah. Not knowing. Thank you so much for all the voice notes.

Thank you so much. I have to agree with the iconic moments that people have said because they really do stick out. They do. Really stick out. They do. Really stick out. When they're sat in that living room and the video comes out and everybody is watching the video of Max and Stacey. So good.

It's amazing. Oh God, it's so good, isn't it? Yeah, I'd like to see them reunited as a fan. Yeah. I would. Oh my God. Brilliant. Fab, fab moments. But thank you so much. They were all brilliant. Next week, we are going to be back to our usual weekly routine,

having a natter about the telly. And I tell you what, I can't wait for us to watch Amanda Land. No, neither can I. I can't wait. So she's moved to Sohar, which is actually South Halston. Yeah. I can't wait. Which is hilarious.

And I haven't seen it yet. My niece has watched it. She loved it. Oh, did she? Absolutely loved it. I think she's watched three. So loved it. Oh, did she? Absolutely loved it. I think she's watched three. So what else are we doing next week? Yeah, what else?

I don't know. We'll work it out. But it's definitely Amanda Land, which is really good. Fantastic. I need a little bit of something fun, I think, in the midst of the rehearsals. I mean, flipping heck, you will. You need some, you know, something light.

Yeah. Also, please let us know what you think about the EastEnders 40th anniversary live episode. And we'll have a debrief in a couple of weeks. Voice note us on WhatsApp. The number is 033 067 84 704. Oh my God, I can't wait to have a good old chat about what's happened. You can tell us all the goss.

I want to know everything. Honestly, it is... I can't even think about a debrief. I can't believe how overexcited I am about it all. I feel, like, cool and really calm, and I'm like... Oh, thank you for listening, everybody. Thank you, guys.

See you next week. See you next week. See ya. 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. Hello, Greg Jenner here. The Cineform Radio Show of King Arthur to the history of coffee to the reign of Catherine of Medici of France we are looking at the arts and crafts movement

and the life of Sojourner Truth and how cuneiform writing systems worked in the Bronze Age loads of different stuff it's a fantastic series it's funny we get great historians we get great comedians

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