Natalie Cassidy, best known for her long-standing role as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, has revealed that she once tried out for a major part in the hit series Gavin and Stacey but was ultimately unsuccessful.
The actress shared news of her ‘secret’ audition on the Off The Telly podcast, which she co-hosts with Joanna Page, who stars as Stacey Shipman in the comedy. The podcast also featured Gavin and Stacey’s cast and crew including Adrian Scarborough (Pete), Robert Wilfort (Jason), director Christine Gernon, and even a surprise appearance from James Corden.
Opening up about her surprise connection to Gavin and Stacey, Natalie disclosed: “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.”
She continued, revealing details of her audition: “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 coveted role of Smithy’s easy-going sister Ruth ‘Rudi’ Smith was eventually secured by Sheridan Smith, known for her work on The Royle Family. Despite not featuring in the 2019 Christmas Special, a source close to the series informed The Sun that Sheridan was thrilled to reprise her role, stating: “She is an incredible actress and stepped straight back into Rudi’s shoes.”
Despite a 14-year break from her role as Rudi, the actress reportedly stepped seamlessly back into character “as if not time had passed at all.” The source added: “Sheridan was over the moon she could go back into the fold and her scenes are brilliant.”
Robert Wilfort, who plays Jason on the hit series Gavin and Stacey, praised the show’s lack of need for improvisation thanks to the first-rate scriptwriting by Ruth Jones and James Corden, reports the Mirror.
“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,” he said. “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 continued with high praise: “You know they’ve sat around the kitchen table and acted it out, and they’re so good.”
Gavin and Stacey: The Finale airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 9pm