This Morning welcomed Natalie Cassidy to the show today— but to many viewers’ surprise, it was as a celebrity chef.

Natalie’s segment began with warm enthusiasm, as hosts Holly Willoughby and Dermot O’Leary introduced her not as the actress many have watched for decades, but as a guest chef ready to demonstrate one of her favorite family recipes. Dressed in a stylish apron and flashing her trademark smile, Natalie joked about how nervous she felt swapping scripts for spatulas. “I’ve been in kitchens plenty of times on set,” she laughed, “but this is the first time it’s real food, not props.” The remark immediately won over some viewers who praised her humility and charm.

Her chosen dish, a hearty chicken casserole inspired by her own family dinners, was simple but filled with nostalgic touches. Natalie explained how the recipe was passed down from her mother, adding that she often makes it for her children when she wants to give them comfort food. She walked the audience through the steps with a mixture of confidence and playful self-deprecation, admitting she’s “no Michelin-starred chef” but loves the joy of cooking for family and friends. For many viewers, this relatability was part of her appeal.

Yet not everyone watching was impressed. As the live cooking demonstration unfolded, some critics on social media noted that Natalie appeared slightly flustered at times, misplacing utensils and once forgetting to stir the sauce until Holly gently reminded her. Others complained that the recipe was too basic for a segment on a national television program, with one viewer tweeting, “I love Sonia on EastEnders, but I don’t tune into This Morning to learn how to chop onions.” Another remarked that the dish “looked like something out of a student cookbook,” sparking debate about whether celebrities should be brought in for roles usually filled by professional chefs.

The previous night, Natalie won the ITV competition series Cooking With The Stars, which saw her paired up with professional chef Tony Singh for a range of culinary challenges.

As she chatted with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shepherd, remarking how she “loved every minute” of her time in the competition show, Natalie broke down one of her family favourites: a chicken, potato and veggie traybake. Along with a menagerie of vegetables, the dish featured a chicken thigh, maris pipers, and a variety of peppers.

However, while Natalie’s cooking went down a storm with the presenters, viewers were less than impressed.

This Morning’s Natalie Cassidy segment was divisive

Natalie Cassidy recently won Cooking With The Stars (Image: Splash News)
“Natalie Cassidy is now cooking on This Morning,” one wrote, accompanying the post with a GIF of a woman rolling her eyes. “I bet Natalie will be on Loose Women any day now,” another predicted. While a third quipped: “Sonia from EastEnders is a chef now FFS.”

“Natalie Cassidy doesn’t call herself a chef,” a fourth proclaimed. “Mainly because she isn’t, I assume.”

A fifth admitted: “I’ve only just stopped laughing that Natalie Cassidy is now a chef on This Morning.”

Other commenters couldn’t get over the East End connection, with a user writing that “next week, Natalie will be teaching us how to play the trumpet.”

‘The whole thing was amazing’

Viewers weren’t impressed by Natalie’s cooking skills. (Image: Splash News)
With her trumpet-playing days firmly behind her, Natalie previously told Loose Women how being a cooking “geek” shaped her experience on Cooking With The Stars.

 “The whole thing was amazing,” she said.

“Everyone was fantastic. We had such a lovely time. Jack [Osbourne], Kelly [Hoppen and Jess [Wright] – all of them were so fun. But the cooking for me – it was the chefs. I get very starstruck because I love food, and I know a lot of chefs. I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to restaurants and chefs, so to be surrounded by Jack Stein and Elliot Grover and all these amazing people, as well as Tony, sitting there talking to them about food, yeah, I felt like a competition winner.”

When soap star Natalie Cassidy appeared on This Morning in a surprising new role as a chef, viewers were left buzzing with mixed emotions. Known to millions as Sonia Fowler on EastEnders, Natalie is one of Britain’s most recognizable television personalities. But stepping into the kitchen on a live morning show proved to be a very different challenge, and the audience reaction ranged from delighted surprise to outright confusion. Social media lit up almost instantly, with fans debating whether her new culinary stint was a refreshing change or a step too far from her acting roots.

Still, plenty of viewers defended Natalie’s presence, arguing that the charm of daytime television lies in its variety and unpredictability. One fan posted, “It’s This Morning, not MasterChef. Natalie Cassidy showing us her mum’s casserole is exactly the kind of wholesome content I want with my cup of tea.” Supporters praised her for stepping outside her comfort zone and showing a more personal side that audiences rarely see. They pointed out that her authenticity made the segment enjoyable, even if the food itself wasn’t restaurant-quality.

The debate highlights a broader conversation about the role of celebrities on lifestyle programs. In recent years, This Morning has increasingly featured actors, musicians, and reality stars taking part in cooking segments, DIY projects, or wellness discussions. While some audiences welcome the crossover, others feel it detracts from the expertise traditionally associated with such slots. Natalie’s appearance added fuel to this ongoing debate, as fans of her acting talent clashed with food enthusiasts who prefer professional chefs.

For Natalie herself, the opportunity appeared to be more about fun and connection than launching a new career. She spoke warmly about how cooking has been her anchor during stressful periods, particularly during lockdown, when preparing meals became a way of bringing her family together. She mentioned that sharing her mother’s casserole recipe on television felt like paying tribute to her roots, and she hoped it might inspire viewers to cook with love rather than perfection. Her sincerity, at least, was difficult to question.

After the segment aired, Natalie took to Instagram to thank fans for their reactions, good and bad. Posting a photo of her casserole, she wrote, “What a morning! Thank you to everyone who watched and sent kind messages. I know I’m no chef, but I hope I made you smile and maybe gave you an idea for dinner tonight. Cooking is about family, love, and memories for me—and that’s what I wanted to share.” Her post quickly racked up thousands of likes, with many followers praising her courage for trying something different on such a big stage.

Behind the scenes, insiders at This Morning reportedly viewed the segment as a lighthearted experiment rather than a permanent shift in format. Producers are known for inviting celebrity guests to try their hand at cooking, and Natalie’s presence fit neatly into the show’s ethos of mixing entertainment with lifestyle. Sources suggested that while the reaction was mixed, the buzz generated by the episode demonstrated its success in sparking conversation—a key aim of daytime programming.

The mixed reception also speaks to the particular relationship audiences have with Natalie Cassidy. For over two decades, she has been synonymous with Sonia Fowler, a character deeply embedded in British popular culture. Any attempt by Natalie to step outside that identity inevitably invites scrutiny, as fans and critics measure her against expectations built over years of consistent performance. Her debut as a chef on This Morning is a reminder of how hard it can be for long-standing soap stars to branch into new territory without facing resistance.

Nevertheless, the overall reaction was far from hostile. While critics made their displeasure known, an equal number of supporters embraced the novelty. Some viewers even suggested that Natalie should be invited back for themed cooking sessions, such as budget-friendly family meals or nostalgic childhood recipes. They argued that her lack of polish was precisely what made her relatable, turning the segment into a moment of fun rather than a formal culinary lesson.

As the debate continues, one thing is clear: Natalie Cassidy’s This Morning debut succeeded in getting people talking. Whether loved or questioned, her appearance showed her willingness to embrace new challenges and to share a personal side of her life with the public. For fans who have grown up watching her on EastEnders, the chance to see her outside of Sonia’s storylines felt refreshing. For others, it raised questions about the balance between expertise and celebrity in daytime television.

Ultimately, Natalie’s casserole may not have been groundbreaking, but the conversation it inspired revealed how much audiences care about the people they invite into their living rooms each morning. In an age where authenticity is prized as much as skill, Natalie Cassidy’s down-to-earth approach may prove to be her secret ingredient. If nothing else, her debut as a chef has reminded viewers that even the most familiar faces can surprise us when given the chance to try something new.