EastEnders star, 60, forced to attend foodbank since leaving BBC soap

Cheryl Fergison reveals Barbara Windsor paid her mortgage

Former EastEnders actress Cheryl Fergison has revealed that she recently went to a food bank, as well as admitting that she's struggled to find enough money to eat.

The 60 year old, who played Heather Trott from 2007 until 2012, spoke to the Mirror about how difficult life has been for her since she left Albert Square.

She said: "Lots of people can relate to it. You’re trying to find a penny. You’re literally looking down your settee to see if you can find a quid."

The actress was later encouraged by Citizens Advice staff to attend a food bank, to which she said: “One of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I found it so difficult to be that vulnerable.”

“I sat there and cried and cried. It was shameful. How could I have been on EastEnders? How could I have been earning that much money and now I am here?”

Cheryl left EastEnders in 2012 after five years (Image: Getty)

Since leaving EastEnders, Cheryl has taken on a number of new ventures after failing to secure acting work.

She most recently promoted tickets to an event named Cheryl's Special £15 Weekend, where she is offering a hearty meal, completed with a starter, main course and side and accompanied by a two hour singing performance by her, for just £15 a ticket.

The planned event recieved a lot of media attention online, with some EastEnders fans teasing: "Girl's gotta eat but come on how the mighty have fallen Hev!"

She also explained that guests who want to attend don't need to even pre-book tickets, which is being held at a Chinese restaurant in Blackpool, called The Great Fortune House.

On top of this, Cheryl has been selling original EastEnders scripts to make money. Prices have been around £50 per script, with £5 added for postage.

The troubled actress has explained numerous times in candid videos that she's struggled to make ends meet.

In one Instagram post, she said: "What I want to put out is the terrible misconception by the general public that we are all rich.

"That is far beyond the truth. I've been out of EastEnders for nearly 13 years, in fact more than that - I left in 2012.

"I've done jobs in between and I've done panto, I'm doing it this year but the jobs are kind of like... they're continuous, they're not like being in a soap all the time."