Sonia Fowler gave birth to a baby girl in emotional scenes during EastEnders live 40th anniversary episode on Thursday.

After becoming trapped in the Queen Vic with sister Bianca (Patsy Palmer) and cousin Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) after the explosion, Sonia (Natalie Cᴀssidy) was left with no choice but to give birth on the floor of the pub.

When the baby – who was fathered by killer Reiss Calwell – arrived, Bianca gasped in horror and said: ‘She’s not breathing!’ 

As the newborn girl began to turn blue, Sonia appeared to go into a state of shock as her lip quivered and she lay back on the ground.

Bianca and Lauren both begged her for help in saving her daughter’s life and she eventually came to her senses and got the little girl to start crying.

The trio were soon rescued by the firefighters who came to put out the blaze and they rejoined their friends and neighbours outside.

Sonia Fowler gave birth to a baby girl in emotional scenes during EastEnders live 40th anniversary episode on Thursday

Sonia, while sat in the back of an ambulance, cradled her newborn daughter and revealed she named her Julia

Sonia, while sat in the back of an ambulance, cradled her newborn daughter and revealed she named her Julia.

Fans quickly took to X to speculate that the baby was named after Julia Smith, one of the creators and first producers of EastEnders.

As the credits rolled following the death of Martin Fowler, an alternate version of the credits, Julia’s theme, played. 

News of Martin’s death will devastate Sonia as the pair had daughter Chloe together many years ago. 

Fans wrote: ‘Sonia names her newborn Julia – probably a Julia Smith reference. Nice touch’… ‘Martin and Sonia’s baby, as one born, another one is gone.’

‘Oh God how is Sonia gonna feel when she finds out Martin is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ!’

‘For a second I thought Sonia was gonna die during childbirth and Martin would stay alive, BAWLING.’

‘Julia’s theme playing as Sonia has her happy ending while Martin dies.’ 

When the baby – who was fathered by killer Reiss Calwell – arrived, Bianca gasped in horror and said: ‘She’s not breathing!’

As the newborn girl began to turn blue, Sonia appeared to go into a state of shock as her lip quivered and she lay back on the ground

It comes after  actress Natalie announced last month she will be leaving the BBC soap for good following her return last year for its 40th anniversary

It comes after Natalie announced last month she will be leaving the BBC soap for good following her return last year for its 40th anniversary.

In a statement given to The Sun, Natalie said: ‘I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited.

‘After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it’s time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.

‘Thank you to Chris Clenshaw for the opportunity to be such a big part of the 40th anniversary – it’s an honour. See ya, Sonia, going but never forgotten.’

Natalie first joined EastEnders in 1993 when she was just 10 years old and remained with the show until 2007.

Fans quickly took to X to speculate that the baby was named after Julia Smith, one of the creators and first producers of EastEnders

She returned as Sonia for a year in 2010 and then returned again last year. 

Natalie reportedly told bosses she was planning on leaving EastEnders last summer.

Natalie has branched out beyond Albert Square many times in her career. During her break from the show, she appeared in theatre productions of The Vagina Monologues and Bedroom Farce.

She released a fitness DVD Natalie Cᴀssidy’s Then and Now Workout in 2007 and appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012.

More recently, she appeared on the BBC sitcom Motherland in 2021 along with an appearance on the comedy show Mandy the year before.