Actress Natalie Cassidy is to leave EastEnders, more than three decades after her first appearance on the soap as Sonia Fowler. In a statement the 41-year-old said she was "extremely sad" but also "very excited" to be moving on.

U.S. figure skater Spencer Lane, 16, shared a photo from inside American Eagle Flight 5342 before it took off from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., where it crashed into a helicopter mid-air.

Natalie Cassidy has played Sonia Fowler in EastEnders on and off for 32 years but has confirmed she'll be leaving the soap - here's what we know about her life away from

BBC EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has announced she is quitting the hit soap after 31 years of playing Sonia

EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy to leave BBC soap after more than 30 years as Sonia Fowler - Her final scenes will air in the show’s 40th anniversary week

EastEnders stalwart Natalie Cassidy has quickly found a new gig. Just one day after news broke of her departure from the long-running soap, the star's next role has been announced. Natalie, who played Sonia Fowler for almost 32 years on the BBC soap after starting out in Albert Square when she was just 10 years old,

EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy is set to leave the soap, but the actress who plays Sonia Fowler has also led an interesting personal life - here we take a look at her family and relationships

Natalie Cassidy is set to bid farewell to EastEnders, nearly 32 years since her first appearance. The 41 year old actress, better known as Sonia Fowler, will depart from Walford next month during the soap's 40th anniversary celebrations.

EastEnders fans are convinced that Sonia Fowler will be killed off after Natalie Cassidy quit the BBC soap this week after nearly 32 years on the soap as the trumpet-playing character