Eastenders exit: How Sonia leaves the soap in style after 32 years
Of course it involves her iconic trumpet!
Last updated 17th Apr 2025
It's not been an easy ride for Sonia Fowler (nee Jackson) over the past 32 years. She's faced a surprise teenage pregnancy, the death of her beloved boyfriend Jamie and more recently, shacked up with a murderer — all since she joined The Square back in the Christmas of 1993.
And now Sonia and her trumpet are set to bid their final farewell to Walford, as the character played by Natalie Cassidy leaves the soap, alongside her sister Bianca and daughters Bex and Julia in tonight's episode (Thursday 17th April).
It follows a dramatic 40th anniversary live special in February, which saw iconic character, and Sonia's ex-husband, Martin Fowler also exit the soap.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Sonia's final scenes wouldn't have been complete without a nod to her early trumpet-playing days, which will always be synonymous with the cockney legend. Boarding a speedboat (on tow) while playing her iconic trumpet, Sonia sets off for Bali, using tickets purchased by her long lost father, Terry Cant.
As fans will know, Sonia's spent many years longing to find her dad — and this week that story finally reaches a conclusion, when mum Carol's ex turns up out of the blue (played by Glen Davies). And it turns out, he's not a nice guy!
It's after Brian Conley joined the soap back in 2021 pretending to be Terry, leaving Sonia devastated when the lie was exposed. Are you keeping up?
Hopefully Sonia's luck is all about to change, as she jets off to paradise to start a new life away from The Square.
Actress Natalie Cassidy, who had a break from the show between 2007 and 2014 (apart from the odd episode) said in a statement: "After another 11 solid years back on the square, I have decided it's time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show."
But it doesn't sound like the actress will get much time off post-Eastenders. As well as hosting a podcast with Gavin and Stacey's Joanna Page, Natalie recently appeared in The Masked Singer (dressed as a bush!) — and is hosting Channel 4's What's the Big Deal: Britain's Best Buys?, among other upcoming projects.
Her final scenes will air at 7.30pm on BBC One tonight (Thursday 17th April 2025).
Watch Sonia's highlights for her 30th anniversary in 2023:
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