EastEnders fans were left sobbing on Thursday night as four characters departed Albert Square in emotional scenes.
The episode saw Natalie Cassidy officially leave her role as Sonia Fowler after over 30 years on the BBC soap, with the actress having announced she had quit earlier this year.
And while nurse Sonia bid a fond farewell to Walford, so did her sister Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and daughters Bex (Jasmine Armfield) and baby Julia, who accompanied her for a grand adventure in Bali.
In typical EastEnders style, Sonia’s exit was full of drama, tears and funny moments, with scenes seeing her steal her estranged father Terry Cant’s (Glen Davies) plane tickets, boat and car after locking him in a shed.
The episode also featured a heartwarming recording of Sonia’s beloved late step-grandmother Dot Cotton (June Brown), while Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) made a brief return as she visited him in prison for advice on whether she should leave.
The show featured nods to Sonia’s past with the emergence of her notorious trumpet, while there were references to her past loves Jamie Mitchell and the recently departed Martin Fowler.
EastEnders fans were left sobbing on Thursday night as four characters departed Albert Square in emotional scenes
![The episode saw Natalie Cassidy [left] officially leave her role as Sonia Fowler after over 30 years on the BBC soap, with the actress having announced she had quit earlier this year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/04/18/01/97413391-14624225-The_episode_saw_Natalie_Cassidy_left_officially_leave_her_role_a-a-25_1744937804353.jpg)
The episode saw Natalie Cassidy [left] officially leave her role as Sonia Fowler after over 30 years on the BBC soap, with the actress having announced she had quit earlier this year
As Sonia finally departed the square on the back of a speedboat on a trailer, she was waved off by a plethora of residents, with her, Bianca, Bex and Julia’s departure spelling four character exits in one go.
Watching the scenes unfold, EastEnders viewers were quick to take to X to express just how emotional the episode made them.
They penned: ‘sorry why am i actually still devo about sonia and bianca leaving.’
‘i am CRYING over tiktok edits of Sonia, Bianca, and Bex leaving. i’m certifiable at this point.’
‘oh my god sonia’s exit has me sobbing’
‘Why the hell am I crying at Sonia in a speedboat with a trumpet?!’
‘Crying at tonight’s episode of Eastenders. It was a perfect send off for Sonia, Bianca and Bex. hope to see them back soon. Their scripted goodbyes to everyone was definitely the actual people saying goodbye to Nat and Patsy, rather than Sonia and Bianca.’
‘Just watched tonight’s #EastEnders . What an amazing exit for Sonia. I am crying.’
The show featured nods to Sonia’s past with the emergence of her notorious trumpet, while there were references to her past loves Jamie Mitchell and the recently departed Martin Fowler
As Sonia finally departed the square on the back of a speedboat on a trailer, she was waved off by a plethora of residents, with her, Bianca, Bex and Julia’s departure spelling four character exits in one go
Watching the scenes unfold, EastEnders viewers were quick to take to X to express just how emotional the episode made them
It comes as Natalie Cassidy has bagged herself a brand new job at Virgin Radio, ahead of her long-awaited exit from EastEnders after three decades.
The actress, 41, has starred as Sonia Fowler on the popular BBC One soap for 32 years, first appearing in 1993 when she was just 10 years old.
However, she announced she would be bidding goodbye to Albert Square for good in January after returning last year for the 40th anniversary, with her final scenes set to air on the show on Thursday’s episode.
But it seems she’s already made huge strides with her post-EastEnders career, taking to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she’s taking to the airwaves with her own Easter show.
Speaking from the Virgin Radio studios, Natalie told fans that she would be hosting a special one-off show on Easter Monday from 1pm until 4pm.
She already has won many fans with her foray into the podcast world with Off The Telly, which she hosts with Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page.
It comes as Natalie Cassidy has bagged herself a brand new job at Virgin Radio, ahead of her long-awaited exit from EastEnders after three decades
The actress, 41, has starred as Sonia Fowler on the popular BBC One soap for 32 years, first appearing in 1993 when she was just 10 years old (pictured on show last week)
It seems she’s already made huge strides with her post-EastEnders career, taking to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she’s taking to the airwaves with her own Easter show on Virgin
Natalie first joined EastEnders in 1993 at just 10 years old (pictured in 1999) and remained on the show until 2007, but made returns in 2010 and again last year
Ahead of the show, the soap star explained that she was trying to ‘branch out’ this year and be ‘brave’, as she gushed she was ‘honoured’ to get the opportunity.
Natalie said: ‘I’m very excited. This year I’m trying to branch out and do brave things, and this is one of them.
‘I feel very honoured to have been given a chance on Virgin Radio. I’m a very big fan of the station and music in general.
‘So to actually come in and do my own show feels very daunting, but there’s a first time for everything.’
She added: ‘I would love to play Oasis for my first show, just a track, because I love them to pieces. Amy Winehouse is always a good one as well. Valerie, it’s a karaoke family classic.’
