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EASTENDERS legend Natalie Cassidy is taking a break after landing a new job.

The actress, who plays nurse Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap, will temporarily leave for a short spell to film a new project for Channel 4.

Natalie Cassidy is taking a break after landing a new job
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Natalie Cassidy is taking a break after landing a new jobCredit: Splash
Natalie will temporarily leave for a short stint filming a new project for Channel
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Natalie will temporarily leave for a short stint filming a new project for ChannelCredit: BBC

She has signed up to front a four-part series about current trending consumer products, called What’s The Big Deal?

The show comes off the back of the channel’s popular air-fryer programme investigating the gadget’s huge popularity.

Natalie will now delve into the stories of four other household products that have gripped the nation’s imagination.

A source said of her Albert Square hiatus: “Natalie will be taking a short break, just like many of her co-stars do when they have another project.

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“Bosses always try to let stars spread their wings and if they can make it work with the often punish-ing soap schedule, then they’ll do it.

“Natalie’s really excited to tackle the project for Channel 4. This is another string to her bow.”

Among trending items she will feature are teeth whiteners and ice baths.

Natalie will be given access to industry experts and scientists to get the inside track on the products.

She will also check in with households who will try the gear and give their verdicts.

At the end of each episode, both the testers and Natalie will reveal if they would choose to spend their hard-earned on the goods.

Natalie Cassidy's Journey with Body Insecurities

Natalie said: “I am looking forward to getting to ask questions we all want answers to, about must-have products.

“Like all of us, I love to try the latest things.

“But as a busy mum, what I really want to know is what lives up to the claims and what is the best deal.”

The four episodes are expected to air on Channel 4’s sister network, More4, later this year.

Last night, an EastEnders spokeswoman declined to comment.

Edday of the Jackal

HERE’S a first look at Sky Atlantic’s TV reboot of classic flick The Day Of The Jackal.

The 1973 film adaptation of Frederick Forsyth's novel had Edward Fox as the assassin.

Eddie Redmayne stars in Sky Atlantic’s TV reboot of classic flick The Day Of The Jackal
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Eddie Redmayne stars in Sky Atlantic’s TV reboot of classic flick The Day Of The Jackal
An explosive action scene in new TV version of thriller
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An explosive action scene in new TV version of thriller
Hotshot Eddie as assassin the Jackal
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Hotshot Eddie as assassin the JackalCredit: Marcell Piti

This time Fantastic Beasts actor Eddie Redmayne stars, with Lashana Lynch as a British intelligence officer hot on his heels.

The ten-parter, available from November, is adapted by Ronan Bennett, who created Top Boy.

Val not stirred by Paul

BEING judged harshly by Paul Hollywood is a given when competing on The Great British Bake Off.

But granny Val Stones, who took part in the show in 2016 before its move from the BBC to Channel 4, has revealed how she often told him to cool it.

Val Stones has revealed how she often told Paul Hollywood to cool it
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Val Stones has revealed how she often told Paul Hollywood to cool itCredit: BBC
Paul with Mary Berry on The Great British Bake Off
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Paul with Mary Berry on The Great British Bake OffCredit: Handout

She told the Passion Chats podcast: “Paul can be very forthright, that’s the polite way of saying it. I’d whisper in his ear, knowing the producer would hear, ‘I’m old enough to do and say what I like’.

“He gets frustrated. Once he even picked my bread dough up and threw it down, and said, ‘Oh, for goodness’s sake, stop messing around’.

“I said, ‘Look, I’m getting a pound to do this, and you’re getting I don’t know how much. I’m an amateur baker, not a professional – just a grandma who bakes!’

“From then on, we got on fine – we got on really well with me answering him back.”


A NETFLIX documentary launching on Wednesday tells the story of a Sherpa who holds the record for the most Mount Everest summits by a woman.

Mountain Queen: The Summits Of Lhakpa Sherpa follows her and daughters Sunny and Shiny ahead of another climb to provide for family.


A Handl on nude scenes

THE late comedy actress Irene Handl was not easily shocked by nudity when she starred in 1977 sex comedy film Come Play With Me – while in her seventies.

Businessman David Sullivan, who produced the box office hit, reveals in two-part Channel 4 documentary Saucy! Secrets Of The British Sex Comedy – which began last night and continues next Sunday – how she loved posing with topless co-stars.

Irene Handl was not easily shocked by nudity when she starred in 1977 sex comedy film Come Play With Me
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Irene Handl was not easily shocked by nudity when she starred in 1977 sex comedy film Come Play With MeCredit: Rex

He said: “She was so OK with it. She said, ‘I would love to do it, I would strip off myself if I was 20 years younger’.”

Londoner Irene, who died in 1987 aged 85, was famed for films such as The Italian Job, Call Me Genius and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, where she tended to keep her kit on.

Drama is on its wahey

SERIES three of the bonking-and-banking drama Industry, quite possibly my favourite thing on TV, will launch next month in the US.

Sadly, it looks like British fans will have to be patient for two more months, because the Americans always see this show first.

That’s because the lead producer is US network HBO.

The series will arrive on August 11, and those of us who watch it on BBC One will then have to drum our fingers waiting.

This will be particularly agonising because the new run promises to be the best yet – with Game Of Thrones hunk Kit Harington joining the cast.

He will play Henry Muck, the boss of a huge tech company, and many have noted the surname sounds eerily similar to that of Tesla and social media tech magnate Elon Musk.

But we will just have to wait to find out if this is the only similarity between Mr Muck and Mr Musk.


SHE made her TV debut this year on the BBC’s Young MasterChef –  but judge Poppy O’Toole found fame by accident, posting online videos about spuds.

She told Andi and Miquita Oliver’s Stirring It Up podcast: “The video about potatoes got the million views. It just worked.”


Carol's styling it out

BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood is refusing to let web trolling about her outfits affect her sunny personality.

The cruel jibes are often aimed at her brightly coloured dresses.

Carol Kirkwood is refusing to let web trolling about her outfits affect her sunny personality
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Carol Kirkwood is refusing to let web trolling about her outfits affect her sunny personalityCredit: carolkirkwood_bbc/Instagram

But shrugging off the online teasing, she told The Times’ Style Mag: “I never search for it myself, I never see it – if I hear about it, it’s usually because one of my friends has told me about it.

“I get lots of criticisms about my clothes, usually from men saying, ‘Did you get dressed in the dark? You look like a sack of potatoes. What a ghastly dress’.

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“If you’re having a bad day, it can be hurtful.

“But it’s usually water off a duck’s back.”

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