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EastEnders’ Natalie Cassidy and Patsy Palmer reveal fears over live anniversary ep & how long they have to learn scripts
The BBC has confirmed the schedule shake-up
EASTENDERS star Natalie Cassidy has revealed her nerves for next week's live 40th anniversary episode - while co-star Patsy Palmer said she'd considered being "naughty" and throwing in improvised lines of her own.
The two show legends only have days to learn their scenes for the celebratory episodes which air next week.
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The anniversary week will feature normal 30-minute episodes on Monday and Tuesday, an hour-long special on Wednesday, and then the live episode on Thursday.
In a huge challenge for the cast, the live event all hangs in the balance of a viewer vote.
Two possible scripts are available to film - with a fan vote on which will be aired closing just 20 minutes before broadcast.
Patsy and Natalie - who is set to leave the show after 32 years as Sonia Fowler - only did a first read through last week, but said they have been so busy they would only have a chance to start looking properly at their dialogue and storylines this week.
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Although they often get little time on the regular BBC soap, the significance of the occasion, her expected central role, and Natalie admitted the fact it will go out live will have her on edge.
Natalie, 41, said: "I still get very nervous - I have to say - especially if I've got a big speech or there's a big scene.
"I feel my heart really going, really pumping. It's just the way I am."
She added: "I feel very privileged to be a part of this 40th anniversary. Super exciting, very nerve-wracking.
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"When I'm nervous and when I'm stressed, I go very quiet.
"I do a lot of yawning when I'm tired. I get really tired, it really drains me, and that is how I feel. But I shall kick into action."
Soap's most awkward live episode blunders
Natalie told how when she had to read a speech for long-time character Dot Branning's funeral just over two years ago her beating heart caused havoc with the sound.
Speaking on today's episode of her Off The Telly podcast, she said: "I did Dot's funeral scenes.
"When I did Dot's funeral I had a radio mic on, and I did the whole speech, and it was the lovely Richard Lynn (director), and Richard came up to me and went 'What is that noise?' He said 'We can't really use that'.
"And it was my heart. It was beating so fast that sound couldn't use half of what I did because it was beating that hard.
"But I do get very nervous. It does worry me."
Patsy, 52, who plays Bianca Jackson, the half-sister of Sonia Fowler, admitted she also gets nervous, but revealed she is excited for the cameras to start rolling next week.
Won't be naughty
And despite the quick turnaround Patsy said she will be ready for her scenes.
She said: "Even if I'd had the live episode two weeks ago I would not have been able to read it.
"Of course we've had a lot of other stuff to do.
"We've got a lot of stuff to do coming up to the live (episode) like getting asked to do things - got to do this, that, and the other and promotion.
"Got a lot of parties coming up. The 40th anniversary party, Nat's leaving party."
As her thoughts now turn to the live show, she added: "I'm actually really excited about it.
"And I'm not going to be naughty!
"I keep thinking 'What can I do - throw little bits in here like when you're in a play?' But I'm not going to do it.
"I do like it (improvising off-script), if you're an actress, in the theatre, that's all part of it.
"I feel like the other person on set with us, she might throw a little bit in. You never know. I will be nervous."
Life's 'too fast'
But Patsy said the experience and knowledge she and Natalie have of their characters, after so many years, should get them through.
She said: "We really know what we're doing.
"It's about getting it right and not wasting anyone's time. I want to enjoy it because it's not often we get that sort of energy.
"I could do the live now - we've only rehearsed it once. We're going to get that feeling, that buzz, that adrenaline."
Patsy first joined the soap in 1993, staying for six years, and was also there between 2008 and 2014, while making other short returns right up until now.
Although she now lives with her family in California, she flies back to film her periodic episodes, but said she could never return as a cast regular full-time again.
She said: "I can't be there for too long because life goes too fast there. It scares me. I don't want my life to go so fast.
"I love my life. I'm past the half way mark, like way past it, and I certainly don't want it to go so fast."
The viewer vote which will open next Wednesday night will determine who Denise Fox (Parish) ends up with out of Ravi Gulati and Jack Branning.
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As an extra treat, once viewers cast their vote for Denise's partner, they will be given an extra choice which is still being kept under wraps.
The full episode of the Off The Telly chat is available today (Wednesday) on BBC Sounds
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