'EastEnders' Patsy Palmer explains soap break: 'It's a full-on job'
Published Apr 13 2012, 13:26 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly
EastEnders star Patsy Palmer has explained her decision to take a break from the soap.Earlier this week, it was revealed that Palmer is bowing out from her role as Bianca Butcher for six months to spend more time with her four children.
© BBC
© BBC
Speaking of her choice for the first time, Palmer told The Sun's TV Buzz magazine: "I'm only taking time off now because this is when the kids' holidays are. When I re-signed my contract I said, 'I love EastEnders, but I love my kids more'.
"Listen, I can imagine staying in the show till I'm in my 60s, but it's a full-on job. If they hadn't been prepared to give me time off, I'd have had to choose the kids."
EastEnders fans see Bianca's exit scenes on Friday, April 27 in a special episode focusing entirely on the fiery character's escalating troubles.
Palmer confirmed: "It's a horrible final day for her. Bianca leaves the house and says she'll be back in a minute, then bumps into everyone - Tyler, Derek, Dot, Janine - and every person she meets gives her more and more to think about. She's in a daze by the end - she's delirious, like she's on drugs.
"What's happening to Bianca is similar to what a lot of people are dealing with. It makes me really grateful I can afford to feed my kids."
© BBC
© BBC
The 39-year-old also opened up over her passion for EastEnders and previous outspoken comments about the soap.
She said: "I love EastEnders and I'm always honest when I talk about it. I made the mistake once of saying I thought it was rubbish at a particular time, but I don't care. I am allowed to have an opinion.
"The show goes through phases of really brilliant storylines, then it has a bit of a wobble. But look how long it's been going. The amount of stories they have to find is unbelievable."
Read the full interview with Patsy Palmer in the next issue of TV Buzz magazine, which is free with The Sun tomorrow (April 14).
> Two EastEnders stars to take break from soap
> Read more EastEnders spoilers and news
Watch Bianca's EastEnders character trail in the video below:
With Sid Owen & Patsy Palmer taking time off, it makes me now wonder whether killing Pat off for her exit was a bad move.
April 18th 2012 at 1:27pm
Honourable as putting your kids before your work is, A full time job is full on, that's the definition, and I still think this shows that if you are in a position to kick a full time job into touch for six months then you are very lucky in todays climate where most people dare not or cannot afford to take a weeks holiday, neer mind six month.
Maybe a the BBC should be looking for more commitment from it's talent. Working on a soap is as near to a regular income as most Actors can expect, maybe in return they should treat the position like a regular job!
April 16th 2012 at 8:28am
Kevin Leonard It's not my fault that I didn't "get" the apparent sarcasm in your post, as it read exactly like many comments on the Mail's own website. But yeah, my point was also that Eastenders is as unrealistic as the scenario you gave in your initial post (and I get now that it was meant to be sarcastic)- there's no mention of benefits in Bianca's house as far as I know. Probably because, as you say, it's an area of controversy the show doesn't want to stray into. Although perhaps the show is, very subtley, suggesting that these are the problems Bianca faces despite being on benefits. Although unfortunately, many viewers will see Bianca's situation as something that could be easily solved if she went on benefits.
April 15th 2012 at 12:10pm
I find it ridiculous that they've let Patsy Palmer, Lindsay coulson, Jessie wallace and Charlie Brooks all have time off!, what's the point of them being in the show atall if their allowed to come and go as they please?, shows how desperate the Eastenders is atm to allow them to have such extended breaks!
April 15th 2012 at 3:22am
Patsy, I (along with a lot of others) have full on jobs, but we ain't taking a 6 month break!
April 14th 2012 at 11:10pm