EastEnders legend missed out on major Gavin and Stacey role as audition 'didn't go to plan'

EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has revealed she auditioned for a major role in Gavin and Stacey but sadly it wasn't meant to be for the soap favourite

Natalie Cassidy, famed for her role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders since 1993, has disclosed that she once auditioned for a significant part in Gavin and Stacey but didn't secure the role. The revelation came during an episode of the Off The Telly podcast, which she co-hosts with Gavin and Stacey's Joanna Page, who plays the character Stacey.

The podcast also featured appearances from fellow BBC stars Adrian Scarborough (Pete), Robert Wilfort (Jason), Christine Gernon (director), and a surprise visit from James Corden.

In the course of discussing the beloved comedy ahead of its final episode on Christmas Day, Natalie admitted to having a lesser-known connection to the show. She confessed: "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 role of Smithy's laid-back sister Ruth 'Rudi' Smith was eventually bagged by Sheridan Smith of The Royal Family fame, who is set to return to our screens after more than a decade. Although Smith, 43, did not appear in the most recent Christmas Special in 2019, a source close to the BBC show told The Sun that she is "over the moon" to be back, adding: "She is an incredible actress and stepped straight back into Rudi's shoes.", reports Wales Online.

An insider revealed that despite a whopping 14-year hiatus since playing Rudi, she effortlessly slipped back into character as if "no time had passed at all".

They remarked: "Sheridan was over the moon she could go back into the fold and her scenes are brilliant."

On the podcast, Jason's actor Robert Wilfort gushed about the lack of need for improvisation in Gavin and Stacey, attributing it to the stellar writing by Ruth Jones and James Corden.

Explaining their process, he commented: "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."

He enthused: "You know they've sat around the kitchen table and acted it out, and they're so good."

And a gentle reminder to viewers: make sure to tune into Gavin and Stacey: The Finale on BBC One and BBC iPlayer this Christmas Day at 9pm and catch Gavin and Stacey: A Fond Farewell on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on New Year's Day at 7pm.