EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy confirmed her return to the BBC soap on Tuesday as she shared a series of snaps from the set.
The actress, 37, who plays Sonia Fowler, recently took an extended break from the show, with the character heading to India to visit her daughter Bex.
And Natalie took to Instagram to declare that ‘Sonia’s back’, as she documented her first day back in Albert Square.
She’s back: EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy confirmed her return to the BBC soap on Tuesday as she shared a series of snaps from the set
In one photo, Natalie beamed for a selfie as she sat in her car on her way to work, captioning the snap: ‘This smile is my ‘I AM GOING TO WORK’ smile.’
While another image sees her pose with a member of the EastEnders crew, with the two clad in face masks as the soap star stated that she ‘missed seeing’ her pal ‘each day’.
Later Natalie shared a short video as she got into her alter-ego’s clothes, donning a beige cardigan and a floral top.
Character: The actress, 37, who plays Sonia Fowler, recently took an extended break from the show, with the character heading to India to visit her daughter Bex
Speaking into the camera, Natalie, who joined the soap in 1993, said: ‘She’s still got her cardigans, I’ve missed her.’
The TV personality also captioning the clip, saying: ‘Soon as I put a cardigan on Sonia’s back.’
In the soap, nurse Sonia was seen struggling to cope with the pressures of the pandemic, resulting her snapping at both her colleagues and patients.
Concerned about his worn-out pal, her colleague Ash Kaur suggested her took a break, with Sonia following his advice.
Back together: Another image sees her pose with a member of the EastEnders crew, with the two clad in face masks as the soap star stating she ‘missed seeing’ her pal ‘each day’
Sonia’s back! Later Natalie shared a short video as she got into her alter-ego’s clothes, donning a beige cardigan and a floral top
Speaking of Natalie’s break, an EastEnders source previously told The Sun: ‘Natalie like other actors on EastEnders was given a break for a few months.
‘In real time she is back filming in the next few weeks but on screen she will leave and be off for a few months because the show is filmed so far ahead. She’ll be back again early Spring.’
The added: ‘Giving actors on the show breaks is nothing unusual and when it’s a quieter period for their character, it makes more sense to rest the characters rather than them not doing much on set.’
Natalie’s return news comes after it was revealed co-star Maddy Hill is set to reprise her role as Nancy Carter.
Stressed: In the soap, nurse Sonia was seen struggling to cope with the pressures of the pandemic, resulting her snapping at both her colleagues and patients
The actress, 31, waved goodbye to Walford in 2016, with her character leaving to go travelling with boyfriend Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel), with the pair eventually getting married and settling in New Zealand.
But now the daughter of Mick and Linda is coming home, with Nancy returning to a very different dynamic in the Carter household than when she first left.
Maddy told of her return in an Instagram post shared by EastEnders in which she discussed Nancy’s life after leaving Albert Square.
Speaking about her return to the BBC soap, Maddy said: ‘I’m so excited to be coming back and reconnecting with all the hilarious, warm, talented cast and crew and meeting some lovely new faces.
‘I absolutely loved playing Nancy and have often wondered what she’s up to, so feel very grateful to be able to rediscover her five years on.’
Big comeback: EastEnders confirmed on Monday that actress Maddy Hill will be reprising her role as Nancy Carter