EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy admits ITV The Chase appearance led to savage family reaction

Yahoo

24-02-2025

EastEnders icon Natalie Cassidy's family 'ripped her apart' after an 'embarrassing appearance' on The Chase.
The 41-year-old revealed she was overcome with nerves during the first round on the hit ITV show. It left Natalie, best known for playing Sonia Fowler, feeling as though she 'looked like a potato'.
Speaking on the Monday Mile podcast with Olympian Aimee Fuller, Natalie revealed she enjoys taking part in quiz shows, having appeared on The Weakest Link and Blankety Blank. But she says she was left pleading with her family not to watch her appearance on The Chase.
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The mum-of-two explained: 'The Chase was one of the most embarrassing things I've ever done because that first round, you have to do a quickfire, and I genuinely looked like a potato. I was so nervous, I just stood, I looked like a lifeless potato.
'I was so nervous, the light came down, my family ripped me apart when it came out. I was like please don't watch it, it was so different from sitting in your lounge.'
Natalie appeared on The Chase in 2016 alongside Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers, Olympian Amy Williams and Westlife's Nicky Byrne. They managed to build a prize fund of £10,000 before facing Mark 'The Beast' Labbett in the final.
The soapstar at one point left host Bradley Walsh struggling to contain his laughter as The Chaser found himself at the end of a fiery comment from Natalie. The pair were facing the question 'who was the last foreign-born American Secretary of State' at the time.
Natalie guessed Madeleine Albrighton, while The Beast opted for Colin Powell. Delighted to learn her answer was right, Natalie said: 'Sometimes you've got to guess, haven't you?'
The Beast responded: 'Honestly, thought I knew that one…' only for Natalie to interrupt and fire back: 'Well you didn't, did you?'
The star added: 'Like a bulldog chewing a wasp that face. Look, he's really upset.'
The final round saw Natalie and the late Dave Myers facing off against The Beast as he looked to answer 13 questions correctly. Despite the pair managing one pushback against the Chaser, he managed to catch them in 56 seconds.
Speaking on the Monday Mile, Natalie revealed she also had an unfortunate experience on Michael McIntyre's The Wheel. She added: 'The Wheel, I never got picked, I was fuming, just sat there and didn't do anything.'
Earlier this year Natalie revealed she would be leaving EastEnders for the second time, having spent 22 years playing Sonia across two spells. In a heartfelt statement, Natalie expressed her sentiments: "I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited.
'After another 11 solid years back on the square, I have decided it's time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show."