Cheryl El Jamouni (born 27 August 1965), known professionally as Cheryl Fergison[1] is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Heather Trott in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role in which she starred in from 2007 until 2012.[2]
Cheryl Fergison | |
|---|---|
 Fergison in 2011 | |
| Born | 27 August 1965 London, England |
| Education | Rose Bruford College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Television | |
| Spouses |
Yassine El Jamouni (m. 2011) |
| Children | 1 |
Career
editAfter training at Rose Bruford College, Fergison started playing the role of Heather Trott on the BBC soap opera EastEnders on 26 June 2007. The character was conceived by the former executive producer, Diederick Santer. Prior to this, Fergison made a brief appearance on the series as a friend of Mo Harris (Laila Morse) in 2005.
Fergison's stage credits include Measure for Measure, for the Royal Shakespeare Company[3] and the 2006 season at The Scoop.[4]
Fergison is also known for playing Joanna Harding in the Linda Flint sketches of Little Britain, opposite David Walliams and also played Judy in The IT Crowd. Other notable appearances include 'Allo 'Allo!, Little Miss Jocelyn, Bad Girls and Casualty, as well as playing Mrs. Lloyd in two episodes of Doctor Who, "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances". Fergison also starred in a promotional video for the band Keane's single "Atlantic", which was included on their Under the Iron Sea DVD.
In November 2007, Fergison participated in the Children in Need charity appeal with her EastEnders co-stars which was broadcast on BBC One. On 26 June 2008, she appeared on and won an EastEnders special of quiz show The Weakest Link.
Since appearing on EastEnders, Fergison has made a variety of television appearances on shows such as GMTV, The Paul O'Grady Show, This Morning and Loose Women. She won the Best Comedy Performance award at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards, and was then nominated for Best Comedy Performance and Best Onscreen Partnership Award (alongside Linda Henry) at the 2008 British Soap Awards. Fergison later appeared in Let's Dance For Sport Relief, dancing to "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice, and appeared in an episode of BBC Two's Shooting Stars in August 2010.
On 17 September 2011, Fergison was axed from EastEnders and it was announced that she would leave at the end of her current contract, departing the show on 21 March 2012.[5] Heather was killed-off after being murdered by Ben Mitchell (Joshua Pascoe).[6]
In March 2012, Fergison appeared on The Saturday Night Show.[7] In April and June 2012, Fergison made two guest panellist appearances on ITV's Loose Women. On 15 August 2012, Fergison entered the Celebrity Big Brother 10 house. On 24 August 2012, she became the second housemate to be evicted.
Fergison was one of the celebrity contestants on Your Face Sounds Familiar.[8] During the series, she sang as Dusty Springfield, Anastacia, Meatloaf, Lulu, Madonna, Cher and Adele. She played the role of Jo in the 2014 series of Big School on BBC One.[9] On 24 December 2016, Fergison reprised her role on EastEnders as Heather, in the form of a recorded voiceover.[10] The recording was a taped message left by Heather for Dot Branning (June Brown), who discovered it on her last day working in the launderette.[10][11]
From October to November 2018, she played the part of Mrs Bird in the musical production of Maggie May at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.[12]
In 2022, she played a fictionalised version of herself in Catherine Tate's six-part mockumentary sitcom Hard Cell, released on Netflix.[13][14][15]
Fergison is also a keen singer and has posted numerous singing videos to her YouTube account. In 2022, she sang at various pubs and venues and was also seen busking outside a local takeaway. She regularly performs at events, including Mullingar Pride in July 2022.[16]
Personal life
editFergison divorced her husband, Jamshed Saddiqi, in 2008. She and Saddiqi have one child, a son named Alex. In May 2011, Fergison married Yassine Al-Jermoni.[17]
In 2015, Fergison was diagnosed with stage II womb cancer.[18] After attending a regular smear test, which came back clear, Fergison began experiencing back pain and spotting blood, which she recognised as abnormal. She did not make her diagnosis public until April 2024.[19]
In 2024, Fergison revealed that after leaving EastEnders, she was struggling with money problems and ended up using food banks which she had “cried and cried” when arriving at one for the first time.[20]
Filmography
editAs an actress
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Covington Cross | Maid 2 | 2 Episodes |
| 'Allo 'Allo! | Desiree | 1 Episode | |
| 1993 | Genghis Cohn | Frau Langer | Supporting Role |
| 1994 | Middlemarch | Pritchard | 5 Episodes |
| 1996 | Interview Day | Miss Bodley | TV film |
| 1997 | A Royal Scandal | Cleaning Maid | |
| Cold Enough for Snow | Mrs. Bodley | ||
| 2004–2005 | Little Britain | Joanna Harding | 2 Episodes |
| 2005 | Doctor Who | Mrs. Lloyd | |
| EastEnders | Meg | 1 Episode | |
| 2006 | The IT Crowd | Judy | 1 Episode |
| Little Miss Jocelyn | Various | ||
| Bad Girls | Latoya | ||
| Casualty | Lucille Prior | ||
| 2007 | The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle | Fan With a Baby | |
| 2007–2012, 2016 | EastEnders | Heather Trott | 386 Episodes |
| 2008 | Children in Need | Housemaid | TV special |
| 2009 | Mr. Right | Red Team Woman | Supporting Role |
| 2010 | EastEnders: E20 | Heather Trott | 4 Episodes |
| 2013 | The Spa | Ms. Wylde | 5 Episodes |
| 2014 | Big School | Jo | 6 Episodes |
| 2016 | White Island | Security Guard | Supporting Role |
| 2021 | Hansel and Gretel: After Ever After | Executioner | TV film |
| 2021–2022 | The Stand Up Sketch Show | Various | 3 Episodes |
| 2022 | Dodger | Mrs. McCurdy | 1 Episode |
| Hard Cell | Cheryl | 6 Episodes |
As herself
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Weakest Link | Contestant | 1 Episode |
| 2008–2009 | The New Paul O'Grady Show | Guest | 3 Episodes |
| 2008–2020 | Loose Women | Guest Panelist | 8 Episodes |
| 2010–2013 | This Morning | Guest | 4 Episodes |
| 2010 | Let's Dance for Sport Relief | Participant | TV special |
| Shooting Stars | 1 Episode | ||
| Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two | Guest | ||
| All Star Family Fortunes | Contestant | ||
| 2011 | Barbara Windsor: A Comedy Roast | Contributor | TV special |
| Children in Need | Participant | ||
| 2012 | EastEnders Revealed | Interviewee | 1 Episode |
| Daybreak | Guest | ||
| Come Dine with Me | Contestant | ||
| Let's Do Lunch with Gino and Mel | Guest | ||
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Contestant | ||
| The Alan Titchmarsh Show | Guest | ||
| TV Burp | |||
| 2013 | John Bishop's Only Joking | Regular Panelist | 6 Episodes |
| Celebrity Juice | Panelist | 1 Episode | |
| Your Face Sounds Familiar | Regular Performer | 6 Episodes | |
| Celebrity Big Brother | Celebrity Housemate | 14 Episodes | |
| Big Brother's Bit on the Side | Guest | 14 Episodes | |
| Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel | 1 Episode | ||
| 2014 | Famous, Rich & Hungry | Participant | 2 Episodes |
| 2015 | Pointless Celebrities | Contestant | 1 Episode |
| Celebrity Mastermind | |||
| 2017 | Sky Comedy Christmas Shorts | Contributor | |
| 2018 | Good Morning Britain | Guest | |
| 2019 | Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule | Panelist |
Theatre credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Dance of Death | Jenny | Almeida Theatre, Islington |
| 2006 | Measure for Measure | Mariana | Royal Shakespeare Company |
| 2012–2013 | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Central Theatre, Chatham |
| 2013–2014 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Spirit of the Beans | Assembly Rooms, Derby |
| 2015–2016 | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Middlesbrough Theatre |
| 2016 | Carnival Dreams the Musical | Teresa | Ashcroft Theatre |
| Menopause the Musical | Earth Mother | UK Tour | |
| 2016–2017 | Beauty and The Beast | Wicked Queen | Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering |
| 2017 | The Wizard of Oz | Wicked Witch of the West | UK Tour |
| 2017–2018 | Sleeping Beauty | Carabosse | The Sands Centre, Carlisle |
| 2018 | Ladies Day | Jan | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre |
| Maggie May | Mrs. Bird | Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool | |
| 2018–2019 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Fairy | Epsom Playhouse |
| 2019–2020 | Stockport Plaza | ||
| 2020–2021 | Menopause the Musical | Earth Mother | UK Tour |
| 2021–2022 | Aladdin | Spirit of the Ring | Trinity Arts Centre |
| 2022–2023 | Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Stockport Plaza |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Digital Spy Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Linda Henry) | Nominated | [21] |
| Digital Spy Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated | [21] | |
| British Soap Awards | Best Comedy Performance | Nominated | [22] | |
| British Soap Awards | Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Henry) | Nominated | [22] | |
| Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Performance | Won | [23] | |
| 2009 | Inside Soap Awards | Funniest Performance | Nominated | [24] |
References
edit- ^ @cherylfergison1 (24 November 2012). "@luv4JCx warily wrong ok my official and real date of birth is. 27th August 1965. This is correct and I have no middle name" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 January 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Cheryl Fergison". What's On TV. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ "Measure for Measure, Nunn/Bjornson, Royal Shakespeare Company, September 1991". Ahds.rhul.ac.uk. 18 September 1991. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
- ^ "Scoop Launches Fourth Year of Free Outdoor Theatre - News - Whatsonstage.com". 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Cheryl Fergison shocked by Heather Trott's EastEnders exit". metro.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ Millar, Paul (12 November 2011). "'EastEnders' shock murder revealed?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Tommy Bowe and Cheryl Fergison for Saturday Night Show". RTÉ Ten. RTÉ. 23 March 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012.
- ^ [1] Archived 1 October 2013 at archive.today
- ^ "Anyone else notice EE's Heather Trott in Big School?". Metro. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ a b "EastEnders: The moment Heather Trott RETURNED despite being killed off - TV & Radio - Showbiz & TV". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ Warner, Sam (25 December 2016). "EastEnders: Heather 'returns' with a message for Dot". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Maggie May wakes up the genre of Liverpool nostalgia musicals". 18 October 2018.
- ^ "Hard Cell review – Catherine Tate's first attempt at a sitcom is lacklustre". the Guardian. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Meet the cast of Catherine Tate's prison comedy Hard Cell". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Catherine Tate on how Hard Cell stands out from her other shows". Digital Spy. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "EastEnders' Cheryl Fergison spotted busking outside local takeaway amid new career". The Mirror. 23 March 2022.
- ^ Payne, Will (22 May 2011). "EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison marries her Moroccan toyboy – mirror.co.uk". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ Lee, Sue (28 April 2024). "'I was sobbing' - Barbara Windsor's generous secret gesture helped save cancer-stricken EastEnders star from ruin". OK!. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ Lee, Sue (28 April 2024). "'I thought I'd die' EastEnders' Cheryl Fergison's devastating secret health battle". OK!. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison reveals she used food bank after leaving TV soap". BBC News. 17 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ a b Green, Kris (21 March 2008). "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
- ^ a b "The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ Green, Kris (29 September 2008). "'Enders cleans up at Inside Soap Awards". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi (UK) Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ "Inside soap awards nominations". 8 July 2009. Retrieved 15 June 2011.