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Patsy Palmer – whose real name is Julie Merkell – first rose to prominence in 1993 as Bianca Jackson in BBC soap EastEnders.
When she joined the cast of EastEnders, Patsy was a single mother living with her son Charley, now 29, from her relationship with with boxer Alfie Rothwell.
During her time acting on the show, Patsy was briefly married to filmmaker Nick Love in 1998.
The soap star appeared as her character between 1993–1999, before turning in 2008 until 2014, and again in 2019.
She was set to return once again the following year, however the pandemic halted plans for her to reprise her role as Bianca.
Patsy first appeared on TV in The Gentle Touch in 1984 and then in 1985, when she played Natasha in the children’s drama series, Grange Hill, until 1987.
The TV star, who was born and grew up in Bethnal Green, East London, has previously spoken candidly about her troubled childhood.
She has previously admitted to trying alcohol at eight, sniffing solvents at 11 and even snorting cocaine at just 13.
It was Patsy’s mother who first spotted her acting talent and encouraged her to go to acting school in London. Patsy was bullied at school acting was a form of escape for her.
When she joined the cast of EastEnders, Patsy was a single mother living with her son Charley (pictured)
During her first stint on EastEnders, Bianca’s on-screen marriage to Ricky Butcher [Sid Owen] in 1997 drew one of the biggest soap audiences ever, more than 22 million.
Patsy returned the show for a two-hour special in 2002, where she was reunited with her on-screen beau Ricky in Manchester for the first time in two years.
In 2005, she hit out at the soap and branded its storylines ‘ridiculous’ and ruled out a return to the show, before reprising her role again in 2008.
Patsy’s autobiography was released in the UK on 5 April 2007. In the book, she described her ascent to fame, her struggle with addiction and how she battled to overcome her problems.
The media personality credits some of her drug and drink recovery to husband Richard Merkell, who she married in 2000.
She previously said: ‘He’s given me what I’ve always really wanted – a real family.’
Not long after she married Richard, Patsy gave birth to their first child together, a boy named Fenton, on June 13, 2000.
She quickly had her third child, and Richard’s second, on July 7, 2001 when they welcomed their daughter Emilia.
In December 2010 the couple had another child, a son called Bertie.
Patsy’s autobiography was released in the UK on 5 April 2007
For 10 years, starting in 2004, she lived with her husband and children in Western Terrace and then Kemptown, Brighton, England.
In 2014 the family decided on a lifestyle change and moved their brood from Brighton to Malibu, where they still live now.
As well as making some very A-list pals including Camille Grammer and Cindy Crawford since moving stateside, Patsy has also discovered wellness and meditation.
Late last year, Patsy appeared to have swapped acting for a new passion, as she launched her new wellness page on Instagram, Good and Proper.
Patsy, who appeared to have taken inspiration from lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow, encouraged her followers to ‘take time out’ on her new page.
On Twitter, Patsy posted: ‘I’ve just launched a new page on Instagram to support my new journey.. join me @goodandproperhair.
On her recovery, Patsy reflected ‘It feels so foreign now, I’m so far removed from it…’I couldn’t even do yoga when I was in my 20s because I couldn’t sit still.
‘Right now is the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m always in the now and it’s the only place I want to be.’
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