Gwyneth Strong swaps Only Fools and Horses charm for EastEnders drama in surprising BBC role

Gwyneth Strong is one of the most famous faces on British television thanks to her role as Cassandra Trotter in Only Fools and Horses but she also appeared in EastEnders

Gwyneth Strong, best known for her role as Casandra Trotter in the iconic sitcom Only Fools and Horses, which aired on BBC One from 1981 to 2023, has also had a stint on EastEnders. She played a character who clashed with pub landlady Linda Carter (played by Kellie Bright) and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

The 64 year old actress first appeared on Only Fools in 1989, playing the smart, level-headed, and ‘yuppie’ love interest of Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst), the notorious wheeler-dealer.

Despite their contrasting backgrounds, the couple met at evening school and their relationship stood the test of time.

Cassandra and Rodney tied the knot in the episode titled Little Problems, making her Del Boy’s (David Jason) long-suffering sister-in-law.

**Gwyneth Strong as Cassandra Trotter in Only Fools** (Image: BBC)

Cassandra was very much a daddy’s girl, pampered by her father, Alan Parry (Denis Lill), adding a touch of class to the Trotters, who resided in a Peckham tower block and peddled dodgy merchandise.

In later episodes, Rodney and Cassandra became parents to a baby girl named Joan, as revealed in the final episode of the BBC sitcom that aired in 2003.

Post-Only Fools, Gwyneth has amassed an impressive list of television credits, including roles in Casualty, Midsomer Murders, New Tricks, Doctors, and many more, reports MyLondon.

In September 2016, the telly sensation clinched a role on BBC One’s hit soap EastEnders as Geraldine Clough, matriarch of a women’s darts team at The Feathers pub.

**Gwyneth Strong as Cassandra in Only Fools** (Image: BBC)

Marching onto Albert Square, Geraldine dissed The Queen Vic as “tacky” before strutting in with her dart-playing prowess.

But her appearance sparked chaos when she played dirty in a darts match against her rival Linda Carter and the rest of the Queen Vic crew, promptly making her exit post-scandal.

Yet, just two months down the line, Geraldine bounced back to Walford for an epic confrontation with another legend.

She was roped into overseeing the Walford Players Christmas Show, resulting in Abi Branning (played by Lorna Fitzgerald) and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) knocking on her door.

**Gwyneth Strong as Geraldine on EastEnders** (Image: BBC)

However, the encounter quickly heated up, and the gutsy Geraldine ended up booting Kathy out on her ear, a drastic swing from the comedy roles we’ve seen her ace.

Geraldine’s stint in the square lasted a solid two months, bowing out on November 29, 2016. Gwyneth has since graced the stage as Mrs Boyle in the diamond jubilee production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap.