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BBC legend's two new shows axed just six months after leaving popular soap
Reach Daily Express | October 8, 2025 9:39 PM CST

Following her departure from the BBC's long-running soap opera EastEnders, Natalie Cassidy was chosen to host two brand new shows. However, both shows have since been axed by TV bosses. In the latest update, the Sonia Fowler star revealed her Channel 4 consumer series, What's The Big Deal? is unlikely to be renewed after failing to impress. The actress who made her major exit in April after 32 years on Walford, recently revealed her BBC podcast co-hosted with Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page has also come to an abrupt end.

Speaking on the series being cancelled, Natalie said: "I don't think it went down very well, if I'm honest. I don't think it will come back. At the moment, there is no talk of it." She added: "But I loved it and it was a great experience for me to do." What's The Big Deal? was supposed to be her first major gig away from acting, which saw Natalie test popular products to see if they lived up to the hype.

Although Natalie shared her thoughts about the show being cancelled on the podcast, she co-hosts with Joanna, titled Off The Telly, she dished more information at an unlikely event.

During an appearance at a literary festival in Somerset to promote her new book, Happy Days, the BBC star first revealed that broadcasters had second thoughts about the show.

She explained: "We had a laugh doing it, and it is a shame the pod ended. I don't think it will be back. With the BBC sometimes, what happens is, through no fault of their own, they love exploring new stuff and they do chop and change.

"And if something isn't massively, massively popular, then they will just get rid and try new material.

Natalie added: "That is kind of what the BBC is for. The money is from you guys, so they do need to change things and make things new."

The actress was at the event to promote her new memoir, which is about her life on and off screen.

Alongside insight into her personal life, she reflects on her long tenure at EastEnders, which began in 1993 when Natalie was just 10.

As a child, she won the Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress gong at the British Soap Awards in 2004, and enjoyed 21 more years portraying Sonia.

However, the trumpet-blowing character turned her back on Walford earlier this year with her two daughters following a revolving door of heartache.

This included the grief of Martin Fowler's (James Bye) death, father to her daughter Bex, who died in the tragic 40th anniversary Queen Vic explosion.


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