Natalie Cassidy, who portrayed Sonia Fowler on EastEnders for over three decades, recently expressed her disappointment over a significant scene being cut from her character’s final episodes. Speaking on her podcast Off The Telly, Cassidy revealed that a heartfelt moment between Sonia and Phil Mitchell, filmed in Albert Square, was omitted from the broadcast. She remarked, “I felt quite emotional… I feel like they cut out the scene, which was my favourite scene.” Cassidy acknowledged she might have missed it during the airing but noted, “I’d be really cross [if it was cut] because it was a really nice scene”

Despite this, Cassidy was pleased with the overall tone of Sonia’s departure, describing it as joyful and upbeat. The exit featured Sonia leaving for Bali with her sister Bianca, daughter Bex, and newborn Julia, culminating in a memorable speedboat scene accompanied by her iconic trumpet playing. This lighthearted farewell contrasted with the show’s typically dramatic send-offs, offering a refreshing change for viewers .

Fans shared Cassidy’s sentiments, expressing their disappointment over the missing scene, particularly given Sonia’s deep connections with characters like Phil and Billy Mitchell through her late ex-boyfriend, Jamie Mitchell. Many felt that including this moment would have provided a more complete emotional closure to Sonia’s storyline.

Cassidy’s departure marks the end of an era for EastEnders, as Sonia Fowler has been a central figure since her debut in 1993. While Cassidy has indicated that she is moving on to new projects, she hasn’t ruled out the possibility of returning to the show in the future. For now, fans can revisit Sonia’s memorable moments on BBC iPlayer, where EastEnders episodes are available for streaming. (Sonia Fowler)