Natalie Cassidy, best known for her 26-year stint as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders, has enrolled in a year-long health and social care course to qualify as a carer—her first time in education since leaving school at 16. The move comes three years after her father’s death from a long illness, an experience that left her determined to enter a profession she now calls “the most rewarding work I’ve ever done.”
Cassidy’s training includes placements in a childhood diabetes unit, with St John Ambulance, and in a dementia care home, where she cared for former nurse Monica, who has Alzheimer’s. “I genuinely came away thinking I was going to miss them,” Cassidy said. “I want to spend more time with them.” Her coursework covers autism, first aid, and end-of-life care—subjects she admits she initially underestimated. “I thought I knew suffering,” she said. “But nothing prepares you for holding someone’s hand as they let go.”
Key Points
- ✅ Cassidy left acting to train as a carer after her father’s death in 2021
- ⚡ She’s documenting her journey in a six-part BBC series premiering May 25, 2026
- 💡 The UK has 5.8 million unpaid carers, with 1.8 million providing 50+ hours weekly
Her classmates include 17-year-old Tilly, whose mother has multiple sclerosis and is paralysed from the neck down. Tilly has cared for her since childhood, a reality Cassidy calls “common but invisible.” “There are millions of carers doing this work without recognition,” Cassidy said. “They don’t talk about it. They just do it.”
| Care Sector Challenge | Unpaid Carers | Paid Workforce |
|---|---|---|
| Hours worked weekly | 50+ hours (31% of carers) | Average 37 hours |
| Primary motivation | Family duty | Employment wages |
| Access to support | Limited or none | Employer-provided resources |
Cassidy’s father, Gary, lived with the family in a specially adapted annexe after his health declined. His carer, Linda, became a lifeline for the family, allowing Cassidy to work while still caring for her father. “Linda was there at the end,” Cassidy said. “I couldn’t have done it without her. Caring is terrifying until you realize you’re not alone.”
💡 Pro Tip
If you’re considering a career in care, volunteer first. It’s the only way to see the emotional weight—and rewards—before committing.
The documentary, *Natalie Cassidy: Caring Together*, premieres on BBC One and iPlayer on May 25, 2026, coinciding with Caring Matters Week, a BBC initiative spotlighting unpaid carers. Episodes will air weekdays at 13:30, featuring Cassidy’s training alongside interviews with carers, healthcare professionals, and families navigating the system’s cracks.
📋 By The Numbers
- 5.8 million — Unpaid carers in the UK, per the 2021 Census
- 1,800,000 — Carers providing 50+ hours weekly, often while juggling employment
- 40% — Paid care workers who left the sector in 2024 due to burnout or low pay
Cassidy’s grief over her father’s death hasn’t faded but has reshaped her. “Grief isn’t linear,” she said. “It changes you. It makes you see the world differently. That’s why I’m doing this—not just to honour my dad, but to fix a system that’s failing people like him.” The series aims to push the conversation beyond headlines about shortages and closures, focusing instead on the human stories at the heart of care.
