Sonia and Stacey.. on the telly

When two stars of the small screen had a chance meeting on ITV's Loose Women last November, it was the start of a beautiful friendship, and now a new podcast.

- RICHARD BARBER

SHOWBIZ MATES TO REVIEW SHOWS FOR BBC PODCAST

NATALIE ON JUNE 

'When she was 82 she would be out in a nightclub, she was amazing'

SHE LOVES

'I like sitcoms & stand-up, a good quiz like Mastermind'

SHE HATES

'Why would I want to watch A&E shows at home?'

JOANNA ON G&S 

'It's gone crazy with the rumours. It's sweet that people still love it'

SHE LOVES

'White Lotus was fabulous. I also like Nordic crime dramas'

SHE HATES

'Dickinson's Real Deal is old-fashioned and boring'

Guest panellist Joanna Page, best known for her title role in comedy Gavin & Stacey, met Natalie Cassidy, who plays EastEnders' Sonia Fowler, on the daytime show.

"We clicked immediately," said Joanna, 46, in that familiar Welsh lilt. "We chatted a bit after she'd done her interview and I thought she was gorgeous."

"And I thought the same, chips in Natalie. "It's the start of a longstanding friendship.

In Off The Telly, their podcast launching on BBC Sounds today, the pair will talk about three or four shows each week, starting with Gladiators, The Apprentice and Netflix smash One Day.

Two people with strong opinions, Joanna and Natalie seem like a good fit to share their small-screen observations.

Natalie said: "We'll record the podcast on a Sunday or Monday to keep it topical and discuss programmes viewers will have watched the previous week.

Having been in the TV industry for so long, both of the stars bring a wealth of knowledge to their listeners, plus as working mums, they spend a lot of time at home watching the box.