EastEnders legend lands major new acting role after selling scripts to pay for food

EastEnders star, Cheryl Ferguson, who played the loveable Heather Trott in the BBC soap, was selling memorabilia from the show 'to keep food on the table'

EastEnders legend Cheryl Ferguson has bagged a new role after selling scripts from the show to make ends meet.

The straight-talking actress, 59, who played the loveable Heather Trott in the BBC soap, was axed from the show in 2012 when her character was murdered in a gripping whodunit storyline.

Since getting "the chop" from EastEnders, Cheryl admitted that she struggled to find acting work and had been selling memorabilia from the soap on Instagram.

However, now her fortunes have changed as she told fans she's landed a plum new role in panto. Taking to social media, the actress shared a flyer for Cinderella in Peterborough in which she sparkles, sporting a glittery tiara.

Earlier this week in an interview with OK! Magazine, Cheryl explained how she had been selling items online to 'keep herself afloat.' Admitting, it's not always possible for an actor to be working all the time, she said: "There is unofficial merchandise being sold either online or in various places, I wanted to give true fans a chance to have something of my era at EastEnders.

"I think that people need to get their heads around the fact we have to earn a living, we are not always fortunate to be filming all the time and working in our chosen and trained profession.

"I do not want to get into trouble in any way and maybe £50 to some people is not a lot of money, but when it can help to pay an ever-increasing bill or help put a roof over your head and food on the table, just like any other person earning a living, I will continue to buy and sell - and pay tax on it."

Cheryl previously revealed that she burst into tears after being told she was out of the fictional Walford -based soap. She told Best magazine at the time: "It was a bittersweet day. What you get with one hand, you get taken away with another! When they told me Heather was for the chop, (the boss) had to get me a tissue."

The actress first made her debut as Heather in 2007. The character was initially introduced as a guest role, but later became a regular. The sidekick of character Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), most of Heather's storylines had viewers in stitches, with Cheryl winning the Funniest Performance award at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards.

Known for her headbands, love of cheese and karaoke, impeccable manners, and being obsessed with singer George Michael, Heather was involved in a juicy storyline in 2009 when she became pregnant by an unknown man. Several characters were named as possibilities, and the father, teenager Darren Miller was revealed after the baby, George Trott, was born. She made her final screen appearance on 21 March 2012 as a corpse, after being killed by Ben Mitchell, who was played by Joshua Pascoe.

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