EastEnders legend confesses to Gavin and Stacey snub after missing out on major role
EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has revealed she auditioned for a major role on Gavin and Stacey but didn't get the part.
The actress, who has played Sonia Fowler in the soap since 1993, was once again joined by Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page as they hosted their Off The Telly podcast. Joanna, who plays titular character Stacey, appeared alongside her BBC co-stars Adrian Scarborough (Pete), Robert Wilfort (Jason), Christine Gernon (director) and a surprise appearance from James Corden.
While discussing the comedy classic ahead of the last ever episode on Christmas Day, Natalie confessed that she had a little-known link to the TV show.
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She said: "Can I tell you a secret? Not about me, but I've got one tiny link to Gavin and Stacey. I auditioned for the part of Smithy's sister.
"I told you [Joanna} but I've not said it out loud. I went up Oxford Street into Baby Cow. Did all my read with James and didn't go to plan, unfortunately."
The Royal Family star Sheridan Smith eventually landed the role of Smithy's laid-back sister Ruth 'Rudi' Smith and she will return to our screens after more than a decade.
Smith, 43, did not make an appearance in the most recent Christmas Special in 2019 but a source has said she is "over the moon" to be back.
The source close to the BBC show told The Sun: "She is an incredible actress and stepped straight back into Rudi’s shoes."
The source said that while it may have been 14 years since she last starred as Rudi, she had jumped straight back into the role as if "no time had passed at all".
They said: "Sheridan was over the moon she could go back into the fold and her scenes are brilliant."
During the podcast, Jason star Robert Wilfort revealed that there is very little improvisation during Gavin and Stacey, and said that was down to the brilliance of the writing from Ruth Jones and James Corden.
He said: "Their scripts are so good, we don't need to. What's unusual is we have rehearsals, a lot of shows don't have time for rehearsals, we always have a week's rehearsal.
"Sometimes you throw a little bit in and James and Ruth go 'I like that' but they're so good. You can tell they act it out themselves, and they know the characters so well.
"You know they've sat around the kitchen table and acted it out, and they're so good."
Make sure to watch Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on BBC One & BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 9pm and check out Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell on BBC One & BBC iPlayer on New Year's Day at 7pm.
