{"id":788480,"date":"2026-10-01T11:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T11:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/788480\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T11:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T11:20:10","slug":"eastenders-natalie-cassidy-and-jack-ryder-share-important-message-as-they-reunite-after-20-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/788480\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders&#8217; Natalie Cassidy and Jack Ryder share important message as they reunite after 20+ years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">EastEnders actors Natalie Cassidy and Jack Ryder have reunited, nearly 24 years after they last shared the screen together.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">The two played love interests Sonia Jackson and Jamie Mitchell, respectively, and while Natalie left shortly after the 40th anniversary celebrations last year, Jack&#8217;s time in Walford came to an end in 2002 when his character died on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">Now the two have reunited, appearing in a new video as part of a campaign that carries quite an important message.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney+, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV\" data-node-id=\"18.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Best streaming services UK 2026 \u2013 including Disney+, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">In the video, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VKA9Smrfuxo?si=IhvbKjBpE0dStVoe\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/VKA9Smrfuxo?si=IhvbKjBpE0dStVoe\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"available on the National Rail YouTube channel and socials\" data-node-id=\"22.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">available on the National Rail YouTube channel and socials<\/a>, the two share a hug as they meet for the first time in decades, before reflecting on the public&#8217;s love for the characters, what they used to get up to between takes, and how Jack and his family took Natalie on her first holiday.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">The reunion took place as part of National Rail&#8217;s &#8216;Proper Catch-Up Carriage&#8217; campaign, which is based on research where participants admitted to struggling to find the time to see people they&#8217;ve not hung out with in ages, and even when they see people, find it tough to have any sort of deep conversation.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">The idea is that being on a train is the perfect time to have meaningful conversations with each other, as you can&#8217;t go anywhere else and there&#8217;s less distractions (lack of phone signal, etc).<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"35\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">The campaign includes some conversation starters, such as &#8220;What&#8217;s a good piece of advice you&#8217;ve recently received?&#8221;, and deeper questions like &#8220;What&#8217;s an experience that changed your outlook on life?&#8221;. These are seen on the dice that the EastEnders duo read from in the video.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"39\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">The dice are set to be available to the public on National Rail trains across 2 and 3 October, while the full list of catch-up questions <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalrail.co.uk\/on-the-train-you-can\/catch-ups\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.nationalrail.co.uk\/on-the-train-you-can\/catch-ups\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"is available on the website now\" data-node-id=\"39.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">is available on the website now<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"natalie cassidy, jack ryder laughing and chatting on a train with question cubes on the table.\" title=\"Natalie Cassidy, Jack Ryder reunion\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4016\" height=\"2675\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/72c912f1-dfa7-45c9-8f0b-473800bc09be.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Will Ireland\/PinPep<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"44\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a73957894\/eastenders-shane-richie-six-month-driving-ban\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/a73957894\/eastenders-shane-richie-six-month-driving-ban\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"EastEnders&#039; Shane Richie faces six-month driving ban after speeding\" data-node-id=\"44.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">EastEnders&#8217; Shane Richie faces six-month driving ban after speeding<\/a> <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"48\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">Natalie also reflects on how she and Jack have gone so long without seeing each other, calling it a &#8220;travesty&#8221; and noting how people who knew them back then would never have pictured that they&#8217;d go their separate ways for decades.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"52\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">&#8220;Sitting down together again felt really special,&#8221; she said in the press release.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"56\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">&#8220;It was a reminder of how important it is to make time for the people who matter most.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"60\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"64\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"http:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/soaps\/eastenders\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage\" data-node-id=\"64.0\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"69\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a70049607\/streaming-guide\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Streaming Guide\" data-node-id=\"69.1\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Streaming Guide<\/a> now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"73\" class=\"css-14bo8h1 emevuu60\">The new edition of Legends, a 100-page celebration of Dolly Parton&#8217;s life, is here. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvldollyparton\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvldollyparton\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Dolly in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"73.3\" class=\"body-link css-1gyyefe emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy Dolly in newsagents or online<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EastEnders actors Natalie Cassidy and Jack Ryder have reunited, nearly 24 years after they last shared the screen&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":788481,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[147950,379,259693,381,96,190731,259692,1156,259691,223205,148025,391,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-788480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-collection-latest-news","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-1dcf3aac-0471-47a7-9d18-f3f9781f2b69","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-issyndicated-false","tag-jack-ryder-reunite-after-20-years","tag-locale-gb","tag-shorttitle-eastenders-natalie-cassidy","tag-sponsored-false","tag-subsection-eastenders","tag-tv","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=788480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/788480\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/788481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=788480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=788480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=788480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}