EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy will get a lesbian storyline again - despite a similar plot being partly responsible for her previous departure from the soap.
The actress' character Sonia Fowler has been getting close to openly lesbian pal Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) in recent weeks and viewers will see the pair share a kiss next month after Tina comforts Sonia over her mum Carol's cancer.
However, Natalie, 30, previously left 'EastEnders' in 2006, partly blaming her lesbian storyline with nurse Naomi Julien, played by Petra Letang for her exit.
The actress previously said: "One of the reasons I left was the storyline. I felt it wasn't right for Sonia. Sometimes people are so keen to get a shocking story the character gets forgotten."
However, BBC bosses have assured Natalie her new lesbian storyline won't be salacious for the sake of it, and indeed, viewers have seen a genuine friendship grow between Sonia and Tina in recent weeks.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "At first Tina's shocked, but she's soon snogging her back. Natalie's been reassured the story will be in keeping with her character and so far, she's happy."
Natalie returned to 'EastEnders' earlier this year for the ongoing cancer storyline featuring Lindsey Coulson's Carol.
Sonia recently discovered she also has the deadly BRCA2 cancer gene her mother has.
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