Former EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer, who played Bianca Jackson in the BBC soap, has opened up about her decision to move to the US, hinting that her time on the show was a reason
Patsy Palmer admits “it gets to me” as she hints at why she decided to quit life in the United Kingdom. The 52-year-old swapped the UK for Los Angeles in 2014.
She moved to the states with her husband, former cab driver Richard Markell and their children. The pair share sons Fenton and Bertie as well as daughter Emilia together.
Patsy was already mum to Charley, born in 1992, whose dad is boxer Alfie Rockwell. The family had been living in Brighton before making the move to Malibu.
Since moving to America, Patsy has carved out a successful career as a deejay, reports Plymouth Live. She described her life in the US as a “dream” and says the family “live in our own little bubble”.
Patsy started her TV career on Grange Hill before really rising to stardom after being cast as Bianca Jackson on EastEnders in 1993. She became known for her sharp-tongue, fiery attitude, and screaming the name of on-screen love interest Ricky Butcher.
On the We’re Not Getting Any Younger podcast, host Andy Goldstein asked if people still shout the famous phrase at her. He said: “Is that the case that every week at least someone will go, ‘Ricky’, and then go ‘Ha ha, I bet she’s never heard that before’.”
TPatsy replied: “It used to but obviously I removed myself for that reason. Not that reason but it really helped.”
She added: “It does get to me. I don’t think I could really..well, I could … but I don’t want to live here anymore and it has a lot to do with that reason.
“I do like walking around and because I’m very chatty, it does take up a lot of my time, because people are genuinely nice, they’re not horrible people. Some are, have been, but not really, 99 per cent of people are really nice and just want to chat about EastEnders.
“And I usually end up chatting about EastEnders for quite a long time. If people talk to me I will talk to them, I’ll never be rude, I might try and get away occasionally, but I’m not one of these people that would be like, ‘No, you’re alright thanks’.”
Patsy was among the host of famous faces to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house last night (April 7), alongside fellow soapstar Jack P Shepherd from Coronation Street. Also appearing on the show are singer Chesney Hawkes, Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, Olympian Daley Thompson, and dancer JoJo Siwa.
Ahead of entering the house, Patsy said: “I’m really looking forward to walking through the iconic doors and meeting a group of brand-new people. It’s a fascinating experience and that’s one aspect that excites me.
“I’m also looking forward to having a break from technology. We all spend so much time on our phones etc so having no access to that will be incredibly refreshing.”
