EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy claims soap's set 'stinks' due to rotten food

16 February 2023 , 02:42

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Natalie Cassidy opened up about the unpleasant working conditions on the EastEnders set (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Natalie Cassidy has confessed that the set of EastEnders “stinks”, with food used as props often getting left on set and forgotten about.

In particular, the 39-year-old actress who plays Sonia Fowler, admitted that she has previously come across gone-off milk left in the Minute Mart shop.

She added that the Albert Square shop has been a long-running issue for both the cast and crew of the BBC One soap, due to the spoiled food left in the fridges and causing bad smells.

The ongoing problem has led to the production crew replacing the items that viewers see on screen with pictures of food, which are drawn up by the BBC art department.

The actress said that the spoiled food on set smelled like 'someone had died' (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Natalie told the Chatabix podcast: "There was a few times we’ve opened that Minute Mart fridge before and I’ve been like, ‘F***ing hell! Someone’s died in here.’

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"There were a few milks in the fridge that were real and the smell - not good.

“So now in the Minute Mart, you know you have the fridges and sandwiches and soups and stuff? It’s all pictures of sandwiches and pictures of salads.

"But they look really good. They’ve been there for a while, I wouldn’t say years.”

The actress joined the cast of EastEnders in 1993 aged ten. Despite a few breaks from the show, including a two-year departure, Natalie will have worked on the Walford soap for 30 years this year.

Natalie has been a part of the soap's cast for almost 30 years (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Over the years, her storylines have included a teen pregnancy, a rocky marriage, a lesbian romance and blackmail.

She recently opened up about her future plans, saying that she has no intention of leaving the soap any time soon.

She said: "I’ve been there 30 years this year. I had a break, but I was 10 when I started and I’m 40 this year. If it’s quiet and I walk past the Vic, I still stand and just look and think, ‘This is amazing.’"

The actress recently revealed the amount of her EastEnders pay packet (Instagram)

As one of the longest standing actors on the soap, Natalie was also quizzed about her salary and whether she was "coining it in".

Natalie replied: "Who me? You're having a f***ing laugh. Let's play a game. What do you think it is a year?"

And they guessed straight away, asking if she earns £150,000, she sheepishly replied: "Not bad, not bad."

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