This EastEnders LEGEND joins Diane Morgan in BBC comedy Mandy

EastEnders
(Image credit: BBC)

She's swapping the Square for an Airbnb...

EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy will join the cast of BBC Two comedy Mandy.

The actress, better known to soap fans as Walford's Sonia Fowler, is set to star opposite Diane Morgan in the new series.

EastEnders - Sonia Fowler Bex Fowler

Natalie has swapped Walford for an Airbnb (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC / Jack Barnes)

Diane is heavily involved with Mandy, as she wrote, directed and stars in the project.

WHAT IS ON TONIGHT? Check out our NEW and improved TV Guide

But what is Mandy about, exactly? Who is Mandy?

According to the BBC, "Most of all she dreams of breeding Doberman Pinchers.

"But there are hurdles to overcome before that dream can become a reality.

"In the series we’ll see her go on a health kick, rent out her small back bedroom on Airbnb and attempt a series of short-lived jobs in the modern gig economy."

The series is based on Diane Morgan’s original Comedy Short from 2019, and is now set to be a longer series.

Not much is known about Natalie Cassidy's character yet, but we do know she'll be a regular member of the cast.

Natalie Cassidy

Natalie Cassidy has landed a role in new comedy Mandy. (Picture: Getty) (Image credit: Getty Images)

The six-part comedy will air on BBC Two and iPlayer in August, and there's an all-star cast attached to it.

Read more: Ricky Gervais hints After Life will get a THIRD series

Alongside Natalie and Diane, the series will feature Tom Basden, David Bradley, Maxine Peake and stand-up comedian Sean Lock.

Most recently Diane starred alongside Tom and David in Netflix's After Life, created by comedian Ricky Gervais.

Diane Morgan

Diane Morgan recently starred in Netflix series After Life. (Picture: Getty) (Image credit: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Natalie Cassidy is best known for her role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, as she joined the BBC soap in 1993.

She's been involved in plenty of dramatic storylines over the years, so hopefully this new role will bring some light relief for her!

BBC One airs EastEnders: Secrets from the Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, at 8pm on Mondays.

Classic episodes of the soap will air at 7.30pm on Tuesdays.

Lucy Buglass
Senior Staff Writer

Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.


She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story, Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress