EastEnders Odds: Sonia Tipped To Be Killed Off After Cassidy Confirms Exit

EastEnders fans were left shocked on Thursday night as Natalie Cassidy confirmed she is leaving the BBC One soap, 32 years after she made her Albert Square debut. 

Show boss Chris Clenshaw has teased Natalie's character Sonia Fowler has a "central role" to play in the soap's upcoming 40th anniversary week, which will kick off on Monday, February 17.

This has sparked speculation on betting sites about Sonia's fate, and the rumour mill is also in overdrive about which characters might return to see the icon off - whether she is dead or alive. 

Sonia To Meet Her Maker? 

EastEnders bosses are keeping tight-lipped about whether Sonia will perish over the 40th anniversary week, but they have confirmed she will film her final scenes in February. 

We know EastEnders are to air a live episode to mark the milestone, and that there will be a huge explosion at the Queen Vic pub. 

Some fans have taken to social media to put two and two together and assume Sonia's time in Albert Square could be up forever. 

An EastEnders source told The Sun newspaper: "The 40th week was always going to be shocking, but could they really kill off Sonia Fowler?

"Viewers have watched her grow up on screen and she’s been at the heart of some of the soap’s biggest storylines."

EastEnders bosses will be keen to mark the 40th anniversary with a massive event, and what better than killing off one of the show's legends? 

EastEnders 40th Anniversary Odds: Will Sonia Die?

Sonia is just 10/11 on betting apps to die during the 40th anniversary week. 

Unbeknown to her, her psychopath partner Reiss Colwell (Johnny Freeman) is a murderer, after he killed his ex-wife Debbie and then forced Sonia's sister Bianca Butcher (Patsy Palmer) to confess to the killing after kidnapping her. 

Dodgy accountant Reiss is still holding poor Bianca captive in a secret lockup, and it's likely this will now tie in with Sonia waving goodbye to Walford. 

However, Natalie's exit statement could be a clue that Sonia isn't being killed off. 

She said: "I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited.

"After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show. 

"Thank you to Chris Clenshaw for the opportunity to be such a big part of the 40th anniversary - it’s an honour. See ya, Sonia, going but never forgotten."

Ending the statement with "going but never forgotten" could be key. 

Has Natalie deliberately said "going" rather than "gone" because Sonia won't meet her maker in February? 

It's 11/10 EastEnders bosses keep her alive with UK betting sites, but anything goes in Soapland. 

Reiss Could Perish In Queen Vic Explosion

The Queen Vic fire could also be a major part of Sonia's exit plot.

Late last year, dramatic pictures showed the Queen Vic in a torrid state following an explosion.

In the images, there is debris everywhere, some of the windows have been blown out, and a car has smashed into the side of the fictional boozer. 

Following the emergence of the alarming snaps, some eagle-eyed EastEnders fans were quick to spot the crashed motor looks suspiciously like Reiss' car. 

Who Will Perish In The Queen Vic Explosion Odds

One soap super sleuth wrote on X: "This is Reiss Colwells car. DOES THAT MEAN REISS IS DEAD IN THE FIRE? (sic)"

Another posted: "That is definitely Reiss’ car that’s crashed into the side of the Vic (sic)"

Following Natalie's exit news, she's gone from an outsider to 10/11 to perish in the explosion. 

However, Reiss is now the 8/11 favourite to be killed off in the blast, while Bianca is just 6/4. 

Dean And Tiff Back In The Square 

If Reiss does die in the Queen Vic crash/fire and Sonia survives, this could trigger Natalie's outgoing character to go into labour and Bianca could be saved from the lockup. 

As a result, several of Sonia and Bianca's family members could come flooding back to the Square, and end up leaving with the siblings to escape the carnage that has unfolded. 

Dean Gaffney and Maisie Smith are 1/2 favourites to return as Sonia's brother Robbie Jackson and niece Tiffany Butcher-Baker respectively. 

Sonia's on-screen mother Lindsey Coulson - who plays Carol Jackson - is also now just 4/6 for a 40th anniversary comeback. 

Which Actors Will Return For EastEnders' 40th Anniversary Odds

What's more, Carol's ex David Wicks recently made a brief return to Walford when Michael French reprised his role as the character.  

Following the Sonia news, he is now 11/8 to make another swift comeback for the 40th anniversary. 

Prior to Natalie's bombshell announcement, Jake Wood was recently been linked to an Albert Square return as Sonia's uncle Max Branning, and he has now shortened further to 4/9. 

Elsewhere, Michelle Ryan is into Evens for an EastEnders comeback as Zoe Slater after she wished the soap a happy 40th birthday - nearly a month in advance. 

She recently wrote on Instagram: "Wishing everyone on the square a very Happy 40th Birthday! What an achievement for a show to run for that long!

"Many great memories. Congratulations to everyone (sic)"

EastEnders Odds: Who Left Cindy Beale For Dead?

And Mimi Keene remains 8/15 to return as Cindy Williams, due to speculation her character, who is also known as Cindy Jr (6/4), could be responsible for leaving her mum Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) for dead on Christmas Day. 

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.