Throng

Natalie Cassidy announces pregnancy

Ex-EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy – who played Sonia Fowler – has revealed that she’s expecting her first baby.

Natalie happily announced that she’s 12 weeks pregnant and said that she and partner Adam Cottrell were “delighted” with the news.

Natalie and Adam have been together for just nine months, and in an interview with OK magazine, Natalie said, "We haven't really gone public with our relationship, so I guess this will seem a bit sudden to some people.

“But it was a whirlwind romance for us too, I guess. We feel like we've known each other forever."

Natalie suffers from PCOS – polycystic ovary syndrome – and told the magazine that she had expected to find it difficult to become pregnant.

She said, "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Adam will propose to me before the baby is born.

EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison – who plays Heather Trott – has told the PA that her 10 year old son was “confused” by her appearing as rapper Vanilla Ice as part of Let’s Dance for Sport Relief.

For her performance, Cheryl donned a blonde wig and an elaborate costume.

Cheryl said, "I think my son was very confused - He's 10, he was like, 'oh, what's going on?'

"A lot of people thought I had cut my hair but it was just the wonder of showbiz and make-up."

And when asked why it was that she was chosen to take part, Cheryl said, "I think it was who had some time off, and I had the week off and they thought, 'she's lazy, this one needs her glutes seeing to, let's see if she can dance.'

“I think there were a few people who would have loved to have done it but because of filming they couldn't."

The PA reports that EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor says that her forthcoming departure from the show isn’t on her mind...

“I’m not even thinking about it” she said.

Barbara added, "I get my scripts and I do them, and I've got about five, six, months yet, so it's quite a time really."

And on the subject of a possible return, Barbara said, "Oh, I don't know about that. I mean these stories come out. No, I shall be leaving in July, but I don't know."

In other cast news, EastEnders character Bianca Butcher has been voted as 'Most Popular TV Mum' in a poll commissioned by Yahoo in recognition of Mother’s Day.

Yahoo's TV editor Paul Johnston said of the poll, "We are overwhelmed by the number of people who have voted for Bianca as their favourite TV mum.

EastEnders actress Nina Wadia has told the PA that she thinks co-star Preeya Kalidas will “blossom” in her new career as a singer.

Preeya, who of course plays Nina’s on-screen daughter-in-law Amira, is leaving the show soon and is currently recording her first album.

Nina said of Preeya’s decision to leave and become a singer, "I think she'll blossom - I think that's what Preeya is about anyway.

"She's a singer and she's got a beautiful voice. Her natural ability is singing - and she can dance too. She dances on set.

“How she does that in seven inch stilettos I don't know!"

However, Nina added that she’s going to miss Preeya and said, "It will be a pity to lose her."

Nina also told the PA that she hopes her character Zainab will accept her son Syed’s sexuality.

John Partridge, who plays Christian in ‘Enders, has told Attitude magazine that he thinks the Corrie character Sean Tully represents a "stereotype" of homosexual men.

He further added that although Sean does indeed reflect some aspects of the ‘camp’ gay man, but he said that his character has been deliberately shaped to move away from that stereotype. While comparing the two characters, John told the magazine, "What I didn't want as a stereotype was what I call a teatime gay.

“The Sean Tully type of character is the reason my character is here.

"I've worked in theatre for 20 years and there are lots of queens in the West End that look and act like that.

“I'm not going to diss his performance or his style, or say 'Who does he think he's representing?' because he is representing one of those shades of gay.

EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison – who plays Heather Trott – has revealed that she’ll be taking part in Let's Dance For Sport Relief this Saturday.

She’ll compete alongside comedian Stephen K Amos, The Bill actors Sally Rogers and Chris Simmons, as well as footballers Jason Cundy and Peter Shilton.

Also in the line-up is Bellamy's People actor Felix Dexter and his co-stars Lucy Montgomery and Rhys Thomas.

In other ‘Enders news, Nina Wadia – who recently recorded her starring role alongside Matt Smith in Doctor Who – has said that she thinks Matt will "make the part his own".

Nina said, "I think he [Matt] will make a great Doctor Who… “He has a real charm about him, a kind of David Tennant charm.

Shane Ritchie's Arctic Circle Challenge

The soon-to-be-returning EastEnder Shane Richie will be competing in a reality TV show before he rejoins the cast.

The show will involve Shane and several other celebs hoofing it to the Arctic Circle, as you do. The new ITV show has been nicknamed I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Brrrrrr... but the real title is ’71 Degrees North.’

Shane and nine other celebs will apparently perform Bushtucker Trial-style tasks but in northern Norway rather than a jungle.

The other celebs include ex-EastEnder Joe Absolom, Footballers' Wives star Suzy Amy, “bra boss” Michelle Mone, opera singer Leslie Garrett, presenters Konnie Huq and Andrew Castle and three more as yet unnamed celebs.

Max & Stacey: Special episode

EastEnders’ star Jake Wood, who plays Max Branning, told This Morning that the show’s writers have compiled a “two-hander” episode which will feature just him and Lacey Turner who of course plays Stacey.

The episode is apparently going to be filmed over the next couple of weeks and will show Max and Stacey meeting alone for the first time since Stacey told Max that she’d killed Archie.

And of course, that was on the same night that Max’s son Bradley died.

Jake said, "There are big things coming up between Max and Stacey… “I know that there's a two-hander episode between those two characters, which is going to be filmed very shortly, and will go out very quickly.

"I'm very excited about that. I love working with Lacey - she's an incredible actress.

Dean Gaffney has told the PA that he doesn’t think there’s “room” for another Jackson character in EastEnders.

Dean, who of course plays Robbie Jackson, said, "If I'm honest, there are too many members of the Jacksons/Brannings in the show at the moment.

“I think the show would need to concentrate more on them rather than bringing in another one to concentrate on."

Natalie Cassidy, Lindsey Coulson and Devon Anderson – all of whom play members of the Jackson family – have returned to the show briefly, but it seems that none of them will be staying for long.

However, Dean added that he’d love to be back as a guest again. He said, "The nicest thing about my character is there's always an opportunity to come back if that was wanted from both sides, especially now as he's got all his family there."

Charlie Clements: ‘I just want my life back’

The now ex-EastEnders actor Charlie Clements has told the Daily Star that he decided to leave the show because he’s fed up of being recognised whenever he goes out.

22 year old Charlie of course played Bradley Branning who we saw falling to his death during last Friday’s live episode.

Charlie told the paper, "I hate all the attention. I can't go anywhere without people coming up to me and asking me about EastEnders…

"They usually ask me about Stacey. I just want my life back. I want to be able to lead a normal life. Go to the pub or a club with my mates and not get hassled.

“I know it comes with the territory of being in such a big show like EastEnders so that’s why I decided to leave.

"Hopefully, things will get back to some normality for me once I haven’t been in the show for a few months.

Dean Gaffney has told the PA that his ex-EastEnders co-star Hannah Waterman – who played Laura Beale – should respond to recent criticism of her by ensuring her work isn’t affected.

He said, "Hannah's doing well. When certain things are said you need to let your work speak for itself…

“Work breeds work. If you sit at home doing nothing and these stories break, it's a bit embarrassing.

"But Hannah and other people are in the public eye and are continuing to work and that proves they are talented."

Dean added that he thinks Hannah looks "amazing" since she’s dropped a dramatic five dress sizes in just five months.

In other cast news, another ex-EastEnders, Martine McCutcheon – who played Tiffany Mitchell – is reportedly “the most profitable former EastEnders star” according to online retailer Amazon.

Lacey: 'I can't believe Stacey's the killer'

Friday night's live anniversary episode of EastEnders drew a whopping 16.6 million viewers. In the dramatic live show, we of course found out that Stacey had killed Archie Mitchell, and poor Bradley fell to his death.

EastEnders Executive Producer Diederick Santer told the PA that the amazing audience rating was "the icing on our silver anniversary cake."

And speaking to the PA after the live show, Lacey Turner – who of course plays Stacey – described her shock when she discovered her character would be unveiled as Archie’s killer. "I honestly couldn't believe it!” Lacey said, adding, “I had no idea and didn't for one minute think it would be Stacey...

EastEnders’ Patsy Palmer has told the PA that she didn't share the viewers hopes that her character Bianca would get back together with Ricky.

When asked if she’d been pleased when she learned Ricky and Bianca were to get married again, Patsy said, "I'm not really sure I did - I really like that 'will they, won't they?' thing.

"But I know the audience really wanted them to get back together and get married so I just hope they'll be pleased when they do.

"It seemed every time they were going to get together, something happened, like Sam knocking on the door or somebody else turning up, and I loved that."

But Patsy reckons that despite things looking like they’re going well, it’s unlikely to be plain sailing for the couple.

She said, "I don't think EastEnders could make a happy-ever-after couple, which is good and that's why it's a soap.

Stacey's the killer! So what now?!

So after all that build up, we finally know; it was Stacey who killed Archie. But what will this mean for her? Will she go to prison??

Well, as we saw last night, right after poor old Bradders bit the dust, Stacey confessed to Max, but as only he knows she’s the killer, is he going to grass on her? I doubt it...

First of all, the two of course have ‘history’ and second of all, Max will know that Bradley would’ve wanted him to protect Stacey, so given his son is now dead, will he let Bradley posthumously take the wrap for Stacey?

And will Stacey tell Ryan that he’s the daddy of her baby? Will she tell Max about Ryan?

And what of Ronnie’s shock confession that Archie raped her?