Spoiler alert: EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy to have lesbian fling with Mick Carter's sister
EASTENDERS actress Natalie Cassidy is set to find herself embroiled in a lesbian love affair later this year, despite quitting the soap over a gay storyline in 2007.
The star, who plays Sonia Fowler in the long-running soap, is set to make a move on openly gay Tina Carter, despite being married to Martin Fowler.
Viewers will see the pair, who have struck up quite he friendship in recent weeks, sharing a kiss after Tina comforts the brunette over her mother Carol's fight with cancer.
A source told The Sun: ''At first Tina's shocked, but she's soon snogging her back."
Natalie cited the lesbian storyline with nurse Naomi Julien as one of the reasons for her departure in 2007.
Speaking at the time, she 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 the 30-year-old that her new lesbian storyline will not be smutty for the sake of it.
A source added to the newspaper: "Natalie's been reassured the story will be in keeping with her character and so far, she's happy.''
Natalie returned to the show earlier this year to support her mum, Carol, who is battling cancer.
However, she soon found out that she, too, has the deadly BRCA2 cancer gene.
Speaking about her storyline, Sonia recently confessed that she felt a responsibility to do a great job with the emotional matter at hand.
Talking on the Lorraine show, she said: "All you want to do is portray it the best you can and get it right.
"If there is any way of getting something like that right."
She added: "I've had a family member with cancer, it just touches everybody you talk you. Everyone knows someone who has some form of cancer."