After over three decades on Albert Square, Sonia Fowler has left EastEnders.
But fans of the BBC soap will know that this isn’t the first time actress Natalie Cassidy has said goodbye to the character.
First appearing in 1993, Son’ has established herself as one of Walford’s most iconic residents.
During her time on the show, she’s faced teenage bullying to placing daughter Bex (Jasmine Armfield) up for adoption and losing her boyfriend Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder) in a road-traffic accident.
More recently she’s been wrongly imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit, given birth to a killer’s daughter and had an explosive fall out with sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).
It’s about time she had a break, right?!
Has Sonia Fowler left EastEnders for good?
Yes, Sonia has left EastEnders permanently.
In today’s episode, she decided against joining her estranged father Terry (Glen Davies) in Bali, and chose to go travelling with Bex, Bianca and baby Julia instead.
The four drove off into the sunset to a round of applause from their nearest and dearest – Sonia and Bianca being towed along in Terry’s speedboat.
As she belted out one final tune on her infamous trumpet, the show’s alternative theme tune, Julia’s theme, kicked in.
This is usually used in place of the ‘doof doofs’ to signify a permanent exit, the conclusion of a momentous storyline or in more tender moments.
Long-term viewers will remember that Sonia has received the music before, back in 2007. This was when she left with husband Martin Fowler (then James Alexandrou) and Bex.
Three years later, she came back for guest appearances, returning permanently in 2014.
What has Natalie Cassidy said about her exit?
Natalie announced her departure in January, citing that she wanted to move onto pastures new.
Alongside hosting two hit BBC podcasts, she is the host new Channel 4 series What’s the Big Deal: Britain’s Best Buys.
The show sees her test out popular household products, investigating if they live up to their hype.
She hasn’t ruled out a return, however.
‘I’m never going to say goodbye to her because, after 32 years, Sonia is ingrained in me!’ she told us.
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‘So, while I’m saying goodbye on screen, for now, Sonia is always there, knocking about!
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‘You never know what is going to happen with Sonia and Bianca, maybe they’ll turn up in the Square in ten years’ time dripping in diamonds!’
Talking about her memories of working at the production base in Elstree, Hertfordshire, she added: ‘I haven’t got a fondest memory because my whole time being here is a fond memory.
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‘EastEnders is a lovely place to work, and I’ve never had a bad moment, so I look back at it with great gratitude and joy.’
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