EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy has left the soap after more than 30 years.
The actress' final episode saw her character Sonia Fowler playing the trumpet, something her younger self was known for as she left. The episode saw Sonia, her daughters Bex and new born baby Julia, and friend Bianca Jackson leave for Bali after stealing Sonia's father Terry Cant's plane tickets, car and boat which were attached to the back.
Before she left, Sonia also left flowers for her ex husband Martin, who died from a cardiac arrest, after a metal beam collapsed on him following a fire at the iconic Queen Vic pub during the show's special 40th anniversary live episode.
Cassidy's character Sonia, was persuaded to jump onto the boat to leave for Bali with Bianca.
When asked if she would be going to Bali, Sonia said: "Well yeah, that's where we're going to start off. Bex is going to find us some visas and everything, and then we're just going to wing it".
Just before Sonia began playing the trumpet, Bianca said: "I've got an idea, look, for old times' sake as we drive off. Come on, it'll be a laugh. You can put it in the bin when we get to Stansted". Check this out in full here.
Prior to this, a touching moment saw Sonia listen to a recording of her step-grandmother Dot Branning, played by the late June Brown, as she packed her things.
What did that little girl ever do to live a life of losing everything she ever loved?", Dot can be heard saying in the recording. "She didn't do nothing. She just wanted someone to love her, to care for her, to pin her drawings on the wall".
"And I'm sitting here and I'm still alone. And out there a light, and behind the windows little girls are being tucked up by their mummies and told stories, and sung to, and they feel happy, and safe, and wanted".
"And I'm still here, and I have to go out that door and face the world, and everyone I see has got someone", she added. "The worst part is seeing them complaining and fighting amongst themselves, and they don't know what they've got".
Back in January, Natalie Cassidy announced that she was leaving EastEnders after 30 years playing Sonia Fowler. At the time, she said she was "extremely sad", but "very excited" to be leaving the show. More on this here.
