EastEnders' Patsy Palmer in tears as her children flee LA pad as wildfires destroy homes

EastEnders star Patsy Palmer has spoken of her heartbreak as she is 'helpless' and 'crying' over the devastating wildfires that are raging through her 'hometown' of Los Angeles

Soap legend Patsy Palmer has expressed her heartbreak as devastating wildfires ravage her 'hometown' of Los Angeles, affecting a number of household names.

The 52 year old Bianca Jackson actress, who relocated to Malibu in 2014 with husband Richard and their children, frequently returns to the UK for EastEnders filming. In a post on Thursday, alongside a picture of the fires, she revealed that her 'brain was fried' and many of her friends in the area had lost their homes.

Patsy had returned to the UK last Saturday before the fires broke out and admitted it was difficult being so far away. She wrote on Instagram: "My heart is broken. My brain is fried today looking at the devastating scenes of the fires AGAIN in my hometown. I just returned home to my home in case after the fires a couple of weeks ago and left on Saturday back to work in the UK and now this.

"My family are safe but lots of my friends have lost their homes again which is extremely traumatic. Being here so far away is really really hard. I'm praying and crying as I write this. I'm helpless here but praying hard Please reach out if you need anything. Richard and kids are there safe and evacuated. This is huge. Really wasn't expecting this. Heartbroken. Stay safe."

Patsy isn't the only Brit impacted by the horrific scenes. Film and TV star Richard Armitage called the Los Angeles wildfires "apocalyptic" after fellow actors lost their homes in the raging blazes that have caused a state of emergency in the US city. TV personality and singer Paris Hilton, When Harry Met Sally star Billy Crystal, The Princess Bride actor Cary Elwes, talk show host Ricki Lake and Oscar-winning songwriter Diane Warren are among those who have confirmed that their residences have been destroyed in the fires.

Thousands of firefighters were attempting to contain the original Palisades fire, with at least 70,000 people forced to evacuate their homes as the metropolitan area became blanketed in a thick cloud of smoke and ash. A new fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, threatening a host of tourist sites including the Walk of Fame, and Hollywood Bowl, which has evacuated staff, as strong winds scattered embers, which could affect more homes and lives.

On Thursday, The Hobbit film series star Richard Armitage, who has spent time filming in Los Angeles as well as working with Hollywood stars, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: "There was a lot of texting last night, I’ve got representatives and friends and colleagues (in the area, and) making sure they’re okay, but also thinking they’re busy dealing with evacuations. But it is apocalyptic. I’ve never seen it." He added that he thinks "people concerned about the Hollywood sign", need to think more about those who are caught up in the raging Palisades blaze, which has burnt nearly 16,000 acres, and seven others across southern California.

British born Brooklyn Beckham, son of Victoria and David Beckham, recently shared a heart-wrenching post featuring images of the devastating fires in LA, where he resides with his wife Nicola Peltz. The snapshot seemed to be taken from a high-rise building overlooking the fiery scene.

The couple's exact location in LA remains unclear following the sale of their $11 million Beverly Hills property in 2023. In a previous interview with Cosmopolitan, Nicola revealed: "We did have a house in LA at one point, but we sold it because we were like, 'Oh, we're going to go to Florida for a while'. And then we're like, 'No, just kidding, we have to be in LA for work. ' It was so silly of us. But we both honestly love New York so much. If our work was there, we'd be there in five seconds."

Underworld star and British actress Kate Beckinsale, who said she raised her daughter in the Pacific Palisades area, wrote on Instagram that she is "weeping for all of the people and pets involved, so many of them I know", and offered support to anyone who needs shelter from the blaze.

More than 1,400 firefighters remained on the scene, alongside 267 fire engines and nine helicopters, according to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Governor Gavin Newsom thanked US President Joe Biden for his "swift response and aid to California as we work to battle these unprecedented wildfires".

Last month residents in Malibu were evacuated from a wind-driven blaze dubbed the Franklin Fire, which saw more than 4,000 acres burn and stars including Dick Van Dyke, Cher and Jane Seymour forced to leave their homes. An update on Wednesday night from the Los Angeles Fire Department lifted evacuation advice in some areas, but kept them in force in the Hollywood Boulevard area.

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