Natalie Cassidy entered Celebrity Big Brother in 2012, admitting the “life-changing” amount of money meant she could pay-off a tax bill.
An EastEnders legend has joked that a “large tax bill” could leave her with “no choice” but to sign up to I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!.
Natalie Cassidy first appeared in EastEnders as Sonia Fowler in 1993. During a break from the show in 2012 however, she admits she was “having a really bad time” financially due to a sizable tax bill.
Noticing she was in “dire straits”, the star took a “life-changing” amount of money and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. On her Life With Nat podcast, she previously admitted she wanted to “get out again, quick as I can” after taking the cash.
The 41-year-old has now joked she would be tempted to head into the I’m A Celeb jungle should she also end up in financial difficulties. Natalie joked it would be another “huge tax bill” or something that would land her on the show.
During a conversation with former campmate GK Barry on the Life With Nat podcast, the soapstar said: “I did Big Brother, I’ve not done I’m a Celeb – yet. You’ve got to say yet haven’t you?
“It’ll happen at some point; let’s be honest. I’m going to have a large tax bill and I’m going to have to go in there and eat kangaroo b******.”
When she went on Big Brother, Natalie admits she was a “calming influence” on the housemates. She often found herself acting as a “peacemaker” between Loose Women panellist Denise Welch and model Nicola McClean.
However, Natalie believes she was evicted early, lasting just 16 days, because she was “boring” to watch. And while she didn’t reveal how much she was paid for appearing on the show, she said it helped her clear her tax bill, reports The Mirror.
She explained: “I went in there, genuinely, for the money to get out again, quick as I can. I went in there, and I just cooked, cleaned, did the tasks, had a bit of a laugh, came home.
“I was in for about… not long. It was brilliant. I got out early – I think because I was a bit boring.”
The star has previously said she would be open to taking part in I’m A Celeb but wouldn’t want to appear on the hit ITV show. She explained: “People say ‘will you do I’m a Celebrity’ and I always say the same thing.
“If I was distraught and I had no money, yeah, I’d be straight in there. But I wouldn’t want to be there. When people say ‘this is an amazing experience’, it’s b*.”
