EASTENDERS legend Natalie Cassidy is taking a break after landing a new job.
The actress, who plays nurse Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap, will temporarily leave for a short stint filming a new project for Channel 4.
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She’s signed up to front a four-part series about current trending products, called What’s The Big Deal?
The show comes off the back of the channel’s popular Air Fryer programme, investigating the gadget’s huge popularity.
Natalie will now delve into four other household products that have gripped the nation’s imagination.
A source said: “Natalie will be taking a short break, just like many of her co-stars do when they have another project.
“Bosses always try to let stars spread their wings and if they can make it work with the often punishing soap schedule then they’ll do it.
“Natalie’s really excited to tackle the project for Channel 4. This is another string to her bow.”
Other trending items she will feature include teeth whiteners and ice baths.
She will have access to industry experts and scientists, to get the inside track on items.
She will also check in with households who will try out the gear and give their verdicts.
At the end of each episode, the householders and Natalie will each give their opinions on whether or not they would choose to buy the goods.
Natalie said: “I am looking forward to getting to ask questions we all want answers to, about must-have products. Like all of us, I love to try the latest things but as a busy mum what I really want to know is what lives up to the claims and what is the best deal?”
The four episodes are expected to air on Channel 4’s sister network More4 later this year.
Last night an EastEnders spokeswoman declined to comment.
BEING judged harshly by Paul Hollywood is a given when competing on The Great British Bake Off.
But granny Val Stones, who took part in the show in 2016 before its move from the BBC to Channel 4, has revealed how she often told him to cool it.
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She told the Passion Chats podcast: “Paul can be very forthright, that’s the polite way of saying it. I’d whisper in his ear, knowing the producer would hear, ‘I’m old enough to do and say what I like’.
“He gets frustrated. Once he even picked my bread dough up and threw it down, and said, ‘Oh, for goodness’s sake, stop messing around’.
“I said, ‘Look, I’m getting a pound to do this, and you’re getting I don’t know how much. I’m an amateur baker, not a professional – just a grandma who bakes!’
“From then on, we got on fine – we got on really well with me answering him back.”
A NETFLIX documentary launching on Wednesday tells the story of a Sherpa who holds the record for the most Mount Everest summits by a woman.
Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa follows her and daughters Sunny and Shiny ahead of another climb to provide for family.
A Handl on nude scenes
THE late comedy actress Irene Handl was not easily shocked by nudity when she starred in 1977 sex comedy film Come Play With Me – while in her seventies.
Businessman David Sullivan, who produced the box office hit, reveals in two-part Channel 4 documentary Saucy! Secrets Of The British Sex Comedy – which began last night and continues next Sunday – how she loved posing with topless co-stars.
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He said: “She was so OK with it. She said, ‘I would love to do it, I would strip off myself if I was 20 years younger’.”
Londoner Irene, who died in 1987 aged 85, was famed for films such as The Italian Job, Call Me Genius and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, where she tended to keep her kit on.
Oz soup mourns Janet
TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of Neighbours legend Janet Andrewartha.
The actress, Lyn Scully in the Aussie soap, died in her sleep on Friday, age 72, with daughters Eloise and Sarah by her side.
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Fans’ favourite Lyn featured from 1999 to 2006 then on and off till 2019.
She was married to Joe, played by Shane Connor, then Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and a mum to daughters portrayed by Kate Keltie, Holly Valance and Carla Bonner.
A show spokesman posted: “Everyone at Neighbours is saddened by the passing of Janet Andrewartha. Beloved as Lyn Scully, Janet will be remembered for her wide body of work, which also includes her turn in Prisoner: Cell Block H.”
Jackie Woodburne, teacher Susan Kennedy in Neighbours, added: “Janet was one of the finest actors of her generation.”
SHE made her TV debut this year on the BBC’s Young MasterChef – but judge Poppy O’Toole found fame by accident, posting online videos about spuds.
She told Andi and Miquita Oliver’s Stirring It Up podcast: “The video about potatoes got the million views. It just worked.”
Carol’s styling it out
BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood is refusing to let web trolling about her outfits affect her sunny personality.
The cruel jibes are often aimed at her brightly coloured dresses.
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But shrugging off the online teasing, she told The Times’ Style Mag: “I never search for it myself, I never see it – if I hear about it, it’s usually because one of my friends has told me about it.
“I get lots of criticisms about my clothes, usually from men saying, ‘Did you get dressed in the dark? You look like a sack of potatoes. What a ghastly dress’.
“If you’re having a bad day, it can be hurtful.
“But it’s usually water off a duck’s back.”