A former EastEnders actress will return to the entertainment industry after a 14-year break when she takes to the mic at Park Radio next week as its newest DJ.
Sophie Lawrence, who played Diane Butcher in the hit BBC soap opera in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, will be taking over from Paul Stephen on the Mid Morning Show on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The 51-year-old, who has lived in Norfolk since 2010, said she was nervous but excited to be taking on the new role.
Talking to Diss Express, she said: “James Grint (Park Radio’s station director) and his wife, Sarah, are friends of mine and he asked me about three weeks ago – and he is really hard to say no to.
“I been interviewed on the radio loads of times but I’ve never done anything like this before.
“Despite what people think, there are a lot of buttons that DJs have to deal with and they all have a purpose. During my practices, I have found that sometimes I am not using them for the right ones, but I am sure by Tuesday it will all be fine.”
On top of EastEnders, the actress starred in Grange Hill, had chart success in 1991 with a cover of Donna Summer’s hit Love’s Unkind and has done a number of UK tours with theatre productions.
“I retired from all that when I moved to Norfolk and thought that was the end of it,” she said.
“I have had a few people ask me to do things over the years, but when this came up, I got a little tingle and thought that maybe I could do it.
“This is my first venture back out into the entertainment industry in 14 years and I hope I can do myself and Park Radio proud.”
