Natalie Cassidy

EASTENDERS legend Natalie Cassidy has revealed her young daughter had to be rushed to hospital after smashing her arm in a terrifying accident.

The actress, 43, said she felt like she had a “nervous breakdown” when she was told Joanie, nine, had slipped over at school — just weeks after having metal plates surgically removed from the same arm following a previous injury.

“Joanie’s broken her arm again. Same arm — smashed to pieces. General anaesthetic, same operation,” she said today.

Natalie shares Joanie with her fiancé Marc Humphreys, a cameraman she met on the set of EastEnders in 2014. She is also mum to Eliza, 15, from her previous relationship with Adam Cottrell.

The actress, who left the BBC One soap last year after playing Sonia Fowler on and off since 1993, said the accident happened just as the family were settling in for what they had hoped would be a relaxing few days at home in Hertfordshire.

“I’d done a little bit of work in the morning at home,” she explained. “[Marc] went outside, put the paddling pool up, cut all the grass — thinking we’re going to have a few days, like a mini holiday, at home.

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“And then the phone rang. She slipped over in the hall, before doing PE. I’m speechless. It’s so traumatic.”

Speaking on her podcast, Life With Nat, which she hosts with Marc, Natalie said this was not the first time Joanie had been through surgery on her left arm.

“A few years ago she broke her arm, and it was a clean break,” she said.

“She then broke it again, they put all the metal work in. And then eight weeks ago, she went under general anaesthetic, had it all out – and has done it again.”

She added: “I felt I was going to have a nervous breakdown, actually. I’m being really honest here. I really fell to pieces. I was not in a good place. Just her little body – and the medication and the trauma of it all.”

The repeated injuries have led the family to ask whether something more might be behind them. 

Natalie said they believed “some sort of deficiency” was causing Joanie’s frequent fractures.

She said: “But she’s had full blood tests, and everything is in range. It’s absolutely perfect. The consultant actually said, ‘I do think it’s just really bad luck.’”

Their latest NHS hospital stay took place during last week’s record-breaking heatwave, when the Met Office issued a rare red extreme heat warning and temperatures climbed close to 40C across parts of England.

“The hospital was quite warm for the few days we were in there,” Natalie admitted. “The staff… they’re not moaning, they’re laughing, they’re joking. Just wonderful, wonderful people. We were so well looked after again. It’s like a little trip, now. It’s like being in a hotel!”

The injury also means the family now face a string of complications around their upcoming holiday. Natalie said Joanie will need a waterproof cover to swim, and that she will have to arrange medical clearance for her to fly with a cast on.

Their trips to hospital have become so frequent that staff now recognise Joanie.

Marc said: “The anaesthetist actually knew her.” Natalie added: “I went down to the theatre. I said, ‘hello, Barbara.’ I mean, who, in their right mind, knows the people in the hospital?”

The former EastEnders actress has taken on a new role, saying “I’ve loved every minute”

BBC viewers have been left sobbing after watching an EastEnders star’s new show.

Former Sonia Fowler actress Natalie Cassidy has taken on a new role and retrained after caring for her dying father.

The soap star previously opened up about the “breathtakingly hard” final moments of his life, but explained how she was left so inspired looking after him that she has now trained as a carer.

In a new BBC programme, Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together, the actress shines a light on Britain’s struggling care system, and focusing on topics like autism, first aid, dementia, childhood diabetes, and working in placements in a care home and St John Ambulance after returning to school to get a Level 3 BTEC in health and social care.

Viewers were left in tears by the eye-opening programme, with a clip recently shared on social media.

One person wrote: “Fantastic series showing the very important things that all carers and health care professionals have to deal with day in and day out! Good luck to everyone involved. I hope all the students who were in the series get the jobs they want to do! Well done @natcass1.”

Another said: “Just finished watching this. Loved it. Congratulations @natcass1.”

A third wrote: “I cried every day watching this series. It was so beautifully done with amazing respect and understanding for everyone on the show.”

Someone else added: “This has been a most wonderful programme x I can’t wait to hear if you passed x I’m sure you did x the episode about dementia [was] invaluable as my husband was diagnosed with vascular dementia recently x I’ve kept that episode.”

Another wrote: “Loved this series. @natcass1 was so honest about her own life and the job.”

Speaking in the programme, Natalie remarked how much she had loved her training, saying: “This course has been fantastic. The people I’ve met, the placements I’ve been on. I would like to continue this care journey.

“I feel like I’ve scratched the surface. I’ve loved it. I’ve loved every minute of it.”

“Caring for Dad right up until the end of his life, and losing him, was one of the most painful things I’ve ever had to do,” Natalie previously told the BBC.

“But the people I met have changed my life and are so inspirational. That’s what spurred me on to do this.”

“I’ve only ever had one job, but I’ve always wondered what I would have done if I wasn’t an actress,” she added.

Natalie’s father died in April 2021, and she went on to say that filming elements of Caring Together did make her miss him, adding: “Grief never stops – you don’t grieve for someone and then it’s over. It just changes.

“You change as a person – it shapes who you are, it shapes how you look at the world. You just get better at coping with it.”

Natalie left EastEnders last year after 32 years, saying that it was time to move on and adding: “EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.”

She later explained she was “ready for a change”, telling Bella Magazine: “I adore EastEnders but you can’t do everything. EastEnders is a factory with 60 cast members and 300 staff.

“They can’t cater for someone who says, ‘By the way, I need two months off to do this, I need another three months off to do this’. It’s not fair.”

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw had also said, at the time of Natalie’s announcement: “Over the last 31 years in EastEnders, Natalie has been involved in some of the show’s most iconic and explosive storylines. Her portrayal of Sonia has made her a firm fan favourite amongst the viewers.”

Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Fans missing Netflix’s hit comedy-drama series After Life should definitely mark their calendars for Ricky Gervais’ next project

The popular Netflix dramedy concluded four years ago.

Netflix has shared an exciting new look at Ricky Gervais’ next series and it looks like a must-watch for After Life fans.

It’s the star’s first series for the streamer since the hit dramedy wrapped up in 2022, concluding the tragically funny story of bereaved journalist Tony Johnson.

This time, Ricky is returning to the world of animation for an original animated series that will definitely have fans of The Ricky Gervais Show with Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington feeling nostalgic.

Alley Cats is created and directed by the Office star, who also takes on the leading role as a member of a gang of stray cats.

Netflix teases “the series follows the trials and tribulations of a group of feral British cats who seek companionship while ruminating about the struggles of everyday life”.

“From the funny to the absurd, the series is packed with Gervais’ signature style of heart and social commentary that audiences have come to expect,” the streamer’s synopsis adds.

It also boasts exceptional 2D animation by award-winning British animation studio, Blink Industries (Dead End: Paranormal Park, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared).

This week, Netflix confirmed the release date for the new series as Friday, 7th August, with all six episodes of the first season dropping at once.

Co-starring with Ricky is a stellar line-up of British talent, including some frequent collaborators who have worked with him on After Life and other projects.

Tom Basden (The Ballad of Wallis Island), Andrew Brooke (PhoneShop), David Earl (Derek), Kerry Godliman (Trigger Point), Jo Hartley (Adolescence), and Diane Morgan (Motherland) complete the main cast. All of them have also previously appeared in After Life.

Natalie Cassidy (EastEnders) and Tony Way (After Life, Mandy) will also be taking on featured roles.

The new image features fans’ first look at the cast of cats, nestled together next to some wheelie bins as they look out over a city skyline.

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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows.

This includes the brand new UK drama Unchosen, starring Asa Butterfield and Christopher Eccleston.

Netflix’s announcement has already sparked excitement amongst fans, who can’t wait for the After Life cast to return to Netflix for more laughs.

One X user said: “I’m laughing at this already after reading the cast.. This is going to be fun.”

“If it’s created by Ricky Gervais, I’ll give it a shot,” someone else replied. And another fan predicted: “Ricky Gervais doing adult animation? That cast is ridiculously stacked. Alley Cats might be the sleeper hit of August.”

Alley Cats premieres Friday, 7th August on Netflix.