Despite her numerous TV appearances, actress Patsy Palmer is still most recognised for her role as the unforgettable Bianca Jackson in BBC's EastEnders.
The 52 year old left the soap in 2014 but has reprised her role as Bianca several times since then, with her most recent return being in September 2024. The conclusion of her current stint on EastEnders remains unconfirmed.
In addition to her work on EastEnders, Patsy is a DJ and a busy mother of four. She's also rumoured to be joining the Celebrity Big Brother house this year and is scheduled to appear on Pointless Celebrities on Saturday, 5th April.
Let's delve into Patsy's life off-screen....
Patsy began her acting career at a tender age, starring in a West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when she was just six years old. She later enrolled at the Anna Scher Theatre school and made her TV debut in The Gentle Touch in 1984, reports Plymouth Live.
During her studies, Patsy discovered that there was already an accomplished actress named Julie Harris, which led her to change her name to Patsy Palmer. The name combines her mother's maiden name and her mother's pet name, Patsy.
She went on to feature in shows like Grange Hill and The Bill before landing her role in EastEnders in 1993 at the age of 21.
The actress has been candid about the challenges she faced when she joined the soap. She was living in a small, damp flat in London's East End and was a single mum to her baby boy Charley, whom she shares with boxer Alfie Rothwell.
In her autobiography, Patsy opened up about her tumultuous twenties, recounting: "By my 20s I was bingeing my life away on cocaine, ecstasy, and enough vodka and Laurent Perrier Champagne to quench a small village's thirst for several hours. I would be out of my head for two or three days in a row - whole chunks of time were lost. I took so many drugs I'm amazed I survived."
Patsy went through a brief marriage with filmmaker Nick Love, tying the knot in the summer of 1998, only to part ways after five months.
It was in 2000 that Patsy then wed Richard Merkell. Her journey towards recovery saw her enter rehab by 2004, and she emerged clean.
Echoing her stance on sobriety, Patsy shared with The Mirror: "We don't have drink in our house. Richard is a social drinker but he doesn't drink at home. I follow the 12-step programme from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous."
The couple shares three children: Fenton, Amelia, and Bertie. Patsy also has another child, Charley, who is carving out a career in acting like his mother, featuring in works such as Our Girl, Dunkirk, and Darkest Hour.
Both Fenton and Amelia exhibit impressive talents as well; Amelia has embarked on a modelling career with Storm LA, while Fenton models both in Los Angeles and the UK. There have been whispers of Fenton's romantic link to Kaia Gerber, supermodel Cindy Crawford's daughter, with Patsy having once posted a photo alongside Cindy on her social media in the past.
Patsy moved her family to Malibu in 2014, and has embraced life across the pond, once remarking: "We just wanted to try something new, we have a pretty normal life in an extraordinary place."
Since relocating, she's rubbed shoulders with A-listers like Camille Grammer and Cindy Crawford.
The former EastEnders actress also has a surprising link to Love Island's Luca Bish, which came to light when he joined the reality show in 2023. Patsy took to social media to wish him luck, writing: "Omg @lucabish all grown up and going on @loveisland we cannot wait to you you will smash it so beautiful kind and funny. Yay from your MALIBU CREW," accompanied by two pink heart emojis.
Luca and Patsy are apparently close family friends, with Luca having been there for Patsy during her DJ set at Quantus Gallery in 2023.
Patsy has made occasional returns to Albert Square and continues to feature on EastEnders, with her character Bianca involved in her sister Sonia's (played by Natalie Cassidy) departure storyline.
Last year saw Patsy take to the ice on Dancing on Ice, and now there's buzz that she might be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house. The new season of the hit show is set to start on ITV on Monday, 7th April, though the official cast list is still under wraps.
Pointless Celebrities airs on Saturday, 5th April on BBC One at 8.20pm
English (United States) ·