Cheryl Fergison First Appears in Eastenders

Cheryl Fergison, born Cheryl El Jamouni on 27 August 1965 in London, is an English actress best known for her portrayal of Heather Trott in the BBC television series EastEnders, a role she played from 2007 until 2012. Her performance as the kind-hearted and often comical character made her a familiar face in British popular culture and earned her a lasting connection with audiences. Fergison relocated to the Fylde Coast in 2017 and has since made her home in Cleveleys, where she lives with her husband and son. In January 2025 she announced to her followers that she would be performing at the opening of the Dragon Lounge, located at 120 Victoria Road West, Cleveleys. The venue, formerly the Great Fortune House, had long been operated by her friend Angela Lui, also known locally as Angela Chang. Fergison’s involvement in the event reflected her continuing engagement with the local community and her enthusiasm for supporting independent businesses across the Fylde Coast.

The images below show the restaurant as it appears in 2025.

After training at Rose Bruford College, Cheryl Fergison began her professional acting career on stage and screen, developing a reputation for versatility and comedic timing. Her early theatre work included performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Measure for Measure and participation in the 2006 open-air season at The Scoop in London. Fergison made her first brief appearance in EastEnders in 2005 as a friend of Mo Harris, before returning in June 2007 in the newly created role of Heather Trott, devised by the series’ executive producer Diederick Santer. The character became one of the most recognisable figures in the long-running soap, known for her warmth, humour, and close friendship with Shirley Carter. Fergison remained in the role until 2012, earning praise for her portrayal and becoming a familiar face to millions of viewers. Beyond EastEnders, Fergison’s television credits include roles in Little Britain as Joanna Harding in the Linda Flint sketches alongside David Walliams, Judy in The IT Crowd, and appearances in ‘Allo ‘Allo!, Little Miss Jocelyn, Bad Girls, and Casualty. She also featured as Mrs Lloyd in the Doctor Who episodes “The Empty Child” and “The Doctor Dances”. Her screen work extended to music, appearing in the promotional video for Keane’s single Atlantic in 2006.

In November 2007, she joined her EastEnders colleagues in the BBC’s Children in Need appeal and the following year appeared on, and won, a special EastEnders edition of The Weakest Link. Her career has continued to blend theatre, television, and community performance, reflecting both her professional experience and her commitment to connecting with audiences.

Cliff Parisi, Jamie Borthwick, Linda Henry and Cheryl Fergison on the set of Eastenders at Enfield Lock in London – 16 June 2009. © Alamy

Following her success on EastEnders, Cheryl Fergison became a familiar presence on British television, appearing on programmes such as GMTV, The Paul O’Grady Show, This Morning, and Loose Women. Her portrayal of Heather Trott earned her the Best Comedy Performance award at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards, and she received further nominations at the 2008 British Soap Awards for both Best Comedy Performance and Best Onscreen Partnership, the latter shared with co-star Linda Henry.

Fergison continued to make light-hearted and entertaining appearances beyond the soap, performing “Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice on Let’s Dance for Sport Relief and guesting on the BBC comedy panel show Shooting Stars in August 2010.

Her time on EastEnders came to an end in 2012 after it was announced in September 2011 that she would leave the series upon completion of her contract. Her final episode aired on 21 March 2012, with her character, Heather Trott, written out in a dramatic storyline in which she was murdered by Ben Mitchell. The departure marked the end of one of the show’s most beloved and recognisable characters, securing Fergison’s place in the history of the long-running series.

In the months following her departure from EastEnders, Cheryl continued to appear regularly on British television. In March 2012 she was interviewed on The Saturday Night Show, and later that year made guest appearances as a panellist on ITV’s Loose Women in both April and June. On 15 August 2012 she entered the Celebrity Big Brother house for the show’s tenth series, remaining until 24 August when she became the second contestant to be evicted.

That same year she joined the entertainment series Your Face Sounds Familiar, performing musical impersonations of several well-known artists including Dusty Springfield, Anastacia, Meat Loaf, Lulu, Madonna, Cher, and Adele. In 2014 she appeared as Jo in the BBC One comedy Big School.

Fergison made a brief return to EastEnders on 24 December 2016, reprising her role as Heather Trott through a recorded message left for Dot Branning, a poignant tribute to one of the soap’s most memorable friendships. In late 2018 she took on the role of Mrs Bird in the stage musical Maggie May at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool.

In 2022 Fergison returned to screen comedy in Catherine Tate’s Netflix series Hard Cell, playing a fictionalised version of herself within the mockumentary setting of a women’s prison, once again demonstrating her distinctive talent for blending humour and warmth in character performance.

Cheryl is also an accomplished singer and performer beyond her acting career. She has shared numerous vocal performances on her YouTube channel and frequently sings at local venues and public events. In 2022 she was seen performing at pubs, community gatherings and even busking outside a local takeaway, reflecting her enthusiasm for live entertainment. That same year she appeared at Mullingar Pride in Ireland, where her performance was warmly received.

In her personal life, Fergison was first married to Jamshed Saddiqi, with whom she has one son, Alex. The couple divorced in 2008. She later married Yassine Al-Jermoni in May 2011.

In 2015 Fergison was diagnosed with stage II womb cancer after experiencing symptoms she initially dismissed, despite a recent clear smear test. She kept the diagnosis private for several years, only revealing it publicly in April 2024. In her account, she spoke candidly about the emotional and financial difficulties that followed her departure from EastEnders, including a period during which she relied on food banks. Her openness about these challenges and her recovery has since earned her renewed admiration, underlining both her resilience and her enduring bond with the public.