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Natalie Cassidy was loved in Albert Square as Sonia Fowler for 32 years, but the actress has now revealed she had other ambitions away from the hit BBC soap opera

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Natalie Cassidy has revealed that after she left EastEnders, she considered applying for a job as a check-out girl at Marks and Spencer. She loved the idea of being on the till and chatting to customers as it would be a world away from her life as an actress.

The former soap star said: “I actually have thought about doing a Sunday afternoon on the till at M&S. It would be brilliant. I’d have to be on till number 13 because that is my lucky number. I would love it but I don’t think you can just do one day though. I love M&S. If I wasn’t doing this acting I’d be working in Marks probably.”

The star, 42, quit the BBC soap back in April after playing Albert Square favourite Sonia Fowler for 32 years. Not surprisingly, offers have flooded in for the TV favourite who lives with her partner Marc Humphreys and their two daughters Eliza, 15, and Joanie, nine.

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Her boyfriend, she says, never gets caught up in her showbiz world but whenever work opportunities come her way, she insists that he and her girls are always the priority in whatever she does. She revealed: “Marc doesn’t get that involved with my stuff to be honest. He will go ‘That’s your stuff. I am really proud that you get on with that’. We work like Yin and Yang. If he was 100 miles an hour like me it just would not work so he is Mr Laid Back.

“But family comes first. So me and Marc were asked to do Celebrity Race Across The World but I cannot leave the children. I mean you’re away for a month or six weeks. It is a long time. I also had something through for Channel 5. It was for a detective series but it was seven weeks in Ireland. I am not going to Ireland for seven weeks, am I? Family comes first with me.”

Among the new projects Natalie has done since EastEnders is a consumer series for Channel 4 called What’s The Big Deal? which aired in the summer. And she will be on our screens in Spring 2026 fronting a new BBC documentary series where she learns to become a carer.

She said: “It is a new BBC daytime series where I explore health and social care, the charities, the volunteers, dementia homes and palliative care. It is a really special show. And I have actually done a Level 3 NVQ in health and social care so I have been doing assignments for that and it has been really lovely.”

In addition to her TV filming commitments and running her successful podcast series Life With Nat, she has spent a good part of the past year promoting her new book called Happy Days. It is an unusual kind of autobiography where she recalls tales from lives based on the days of the week.

The star explained: “On Instagram I always say ‘Happy Monday’ or ‘Happy Tuesday’ and I thought for my book, rather than write ‘I was born in 1983 and then I did this and then I did that…’ I decided to research about the days of the week and where they come from and we can get into special days like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day and Christmas Day which I really love.

“So I started with Monday. And that came quite easily because I lost my mum on a Monday… 20th of May, I lost my mum, I will never forget that morning. But I also had my first proper date with Mark on a Monday. So I thought that is lovely because there is something sad but also something joyous on that day so I can talk about Monday and link it up in different ways. It was good to find stories for every day of the week looking at different times in my life and then put them altogether.”

Natalie admits the book is a mix of joy and grief as that is what she – and millions of others – experience in their lives. She explained: “My life has not always been easy. I have been through heartache. It is hard. Sometimes I meet people of my own age and I am 42 now and they’ll say ‘I have got this going on and my mum’s coming to help me or my dad’s doing this..’ And I think ‘God you are so lucky’.

“I lost my mum when I was 19 and I lost my dad four years ago. I don’t think it matters when you lose your parents, it’s being an orphan that is really really hard. So in the book I did want to talk about grief but in a nice way. It is important to talk about grief and the people we have lost. With mum and dad gone it is really difficult but I am very lucky because what God or whoever has given me is this family and I have these nieces who are like my sisters and big brothers who are like my dad. Sometimes you make up for it in other ways. And that has made me who I am today.”

However some topics from her life, including her tumultuous relationship with former boyfriend Adam Cottrell, have remained off limits. She explained: “I have had hard times in my life but I didn’t want to do a massive thing about how awful those years were. It is my private life and some things I want to keep private out of respect for my children and it is down to them if they want to talk about it in the future. But I wanted to write a book which was appropriate for my daughters to read. That was very important to me. I just wanted them to be able to read it and feel proud of the book.”

After 32 years on the BBC soap, it’s no secret that Natalie gets recognised almost every day as ‘Sonia from EastEnders’. But she is very happy with that and would not change it for the world.

She told fans at a book signing in Somerset: “I think people fell in love with the character from the beginning. It started with the shy looking girl who played the trumpet really badly and it just stuck from then on. It’s become a memory for people. It’s become iconic and that is lovely.

“At the time I’d get white van man and workmen shouting ‘Oi Sonia? Where’s the trumpet?’ But it was all in jest and very nice. And I still get it now and it doesn’t matter if you leave EastEnders, it is always with you and I love that. I feel very honoured just to be known for those things. I mean there are people in our industry who get annoyed about being recognised but I always think ‘How can you be annoyed?’ It is an absolute honour to be known for something.”

* Natalie Cassidy: Happy Days is out now published by HarperCollins.

Natalie Cassidy was loved in Albert Square as Sonia Fowler for 32 years, but the actress has now revealed she had other ambitions away from the hit BBC soap opera

View 2 Images

Natalie Cassidy has revealed that after she left EastEnders, she considered applying for a job as a check-out girl at Marks and Spencer. She loved the idea of being on the till and chatting to customers as it would be a world away from her life as an actress.

The former soap star said: “I actually have thought about doing a Sunday afternoon on the till at M&S. It would be brilliant. I’d have to be on till number 13 because that is my lucky number. I would love it but I don’t think you can just do one day though. I love M&S. If I wasn’t doing this acting I’d be working in Marks probably.”

The star, 42, quit the BBC soap back in April after playing Albert Square favourite Sonia Fowler for 32 years. Not surprisingly, offers have flooded in for the TV favourite who lives with her partner Marc Humphreys and their two daughters Eliza, 15, and Joanie, nine.

View 2 Images

Her boyfriend, she says, never gets caught up in her showbiz world but whenever work opportunities come her way, she insists that he and her girls are always the priority in whatever she does. She revealed: “Marc doesn’t get that involved with my stuff to be honest. He will go ‘That’s your stuff. I am really proud that you get on with that’. We work like Yin and Yang. If he was 100 miles an hour like me it just would not work so he is Mr Laid Back.

“But family comes first. So me and Marc were asked to do Celebrity Race Across The World but I cannot leave the children. I mean you’re away for a month or six weeks. It is a long time. I also had something through for Channel 5. It was for a detective series but it was seven weeks in Ireland. I am not going to Ireland for seven weeks, am I? Family comes first with me.”

Among the new projects Natalie has done since EastEnders is a consumer series for Channel 4 called What’s The Big Deal? which aired in the summer. And she will be on our screens in Spring 2026 fronting a new BBC documentary series where she learns to become a carer.

She said: “It is a new BBC daytime series where I explore health and social care, the charities, the volunteers, dementia homes and palliative care. It is a really special show. And I have actually done a Level 3 NVQ in health and social care so I have been doing assignments for that and it has been really lovely.”

In addition to her TV filming commitments and running her successful podcast series Life With Nat, she has spent a good part of the past year promoting her new book called Happy Days. It is an unusual kind of autobiography where she recalls tales from lives based on the days of the week.

The star explained: “On Instagram I always say ‘Happy Monday’ or ‘Happy Tuesday’ and I thought for my book, rather than write ‘I was born in 1983 and then I did this and then I did that…’ I decided to research about the days of the week and where they come from and we can get into special days like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day and Christmas Day which I really love.

“So I started with Monday. And that came quite easily because I lost my mum on a Monday… 20th of May, I lost my mum, I will never forget that morning. But I also had my first proper date with Mark on a Monday. So I thought that is lovely because there is something sad but also something joyous on that day so I can talk about Monday and link it up in different ways. It was good to find stories for every day of the week looking at different times in my life and then put them altogether.”

Natalie admits the book is a mix of joy and grief as that is what she – and millions of others – experience in their lives. She explained: “My life has not always been easy. I have been through heartache. It is hard. Sometimes I meet people of my own age and I am 42 now and they’ll say ‘I have got this going on and my mum’s coming to help me or my dad’s doing this..’ And I think ‘God you are so lucky’.

“I lost my mum when I was 19 and I lost my dad four years ago. I don’t think it matters when you lose your parents, it’s being an orphan that is really really hard. So in the book I did want to talk about grief but in a nice way. It is important to talk about grief and the people we have lost. With mum and dad gone it is really difficult but I am very lucky because what God or whoever has given me is this family and I have these nieces who are like my sisters and big brothers who are like my dad. Sometimes you make up for it in other ways. And that has made me who I am today.”

However some topics from her life, including her tumultuous relationship with former boyfriend Adam Cottrell, have remained off limits. She explained: “I have had hard times in my life but I didn’t want to do a massive thing about how awful those years were. It is my private life and some things I want to keep private out of respect for my children and it is down to them if they want to talk about it in the future. But I wanted to write a book which was appropriate for my daughters to read. That was very important to me. I just wanted them to be able to read it and feel proud of the book.”

After 32 years on the BBC soap, it’s no secret that Natalie gets recognised almost every day as ‘Sonia from EastEnders’. But she is very happy with that and would not change it for the world.

She told fans at a book signing in Somerset: “I think people fell in love with the character from the beginning. It started with the shy looking girl who played the trumpet really badly and it just stuck from then on. It’s become a memory for people. It’s become iconic and that is lovely.

“At the time I’d get white van man and workmen shouting ‘Oi Sonia? Where’s the trumpet?’ But it was all in jest and very nice. And I still get it now and it doesn’t matter if you leave EastEnders, it is always with you and I love that. I feel very honoured just to be known for those things. I mean there are people in our industry who get annoyed about being recognised but I always think ‘How can you be annoyed?’ It is an absolute honour to be known for something.”

* Natalie Cassidy: Happy Days is out now published by HarperCollins.

Davina McCall, the Masked Singer star, struggled to hold back tears as she discussed her book plans following her medical ordeal.

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The Masked Singer panellist Davina McCall was recently left in tears after opening up about her new plan for a book. Earlier this year, the presenter released Birthing, co-written with midwife Marley Hall, which offers compassionate support and empowering advice on every stage of birth.

While promoting the paperback on Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, Davina, 58, explained the motivation behind the project. “Sometimes if you don’t get the birth you want, you feel like a failure, and I really didn’t want women to feel like that,” she said.

“So I thought I needed to write a comprehensive book without making any judgments or providing instructions. You are welcome by me, us, me, and Marley, however you choose to go about doing it.

However, we want to support you regardless of your birth experience so that you can learn about every birth type and have confidence in it. The book is really impressive to me.

Chris made a joke about Davina “joining the dots backwards” after her book on menopause was released. She laughed and said, “I’ve written a prequel.”

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Davina then revealed that she is currently planning a second book. When asked what it would be about, she said, “Dying: How to have a positive end to your life.”

Chris remarked on words that the Dalai Lama frequently used to speak. He said, “The Dalai Lama always talks about that.” He claims that planning a dinner party would be a good idea if you wanted to go out. You’ll have a better time while it was taking place.

“First of all, you accept that we will all pass away. Then plant the seeds for the best possible marginal decade. You don’t know when the marginal decade will pass until it occurs because it is your last decade in life.

You can only count back when it ends, but if you make improvements to your health, well-being, and outlook on life enough to have a fantastic marginal decade, you’re already accepting that you’re going to die, and setting up the biggest possible celebration for your relatives, he said.

Davina struggled to respond as she washed away tears as he spoke. She told Chris, “That was really good. “before apologizing for becoming emotional,” was a really good phrase.

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According to Davina, her recent battle with a brain tumour served as inspiration for her new book. She underwent surgery in November 2024 to remove a 14mm colloid cyst, a rare, non-cancerous brain tumor that was close to the brain’s center.

Davina’s memory problems came as a result of the cyst’s impact on the brain’s short-term memory pathway, which is thought to have been the result of the operation. She acknowledged that she had been in fear of dying despite her health scare.

Speaking to The Guardian, Davina said: “The best thing to come out of it is not being frightened of death any more. I wasn’t terrified of dying, but I didn’t want to die. I love life, love living, and definitely wanted to be around for my kids while they were young.

Although I didn’t want to leave my three children, I did think that you’d all be okay if I did. “I think if I had been sick when my kids were young, it would have been very different.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m. on ITV and ITVX, The Masked Singer: Christmas Special airs.

Jeff Brazier has had a testing year – featuring the collapse of his marriage to Kate Dwyer and with drama involving his sons Bobby and Freddy. But he says he is learning from his experiences.

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Jeff Brazier has declared he is “becoming the man I want to be” following a testing year which saw his marriage collapse and his relationship with his sons become strained. The 46-year-old reality star split from 35-year-old Kate Dwyer in the summer – but they didn’t confirm their break-up until last month.

And further family drama has unfolded after Jeff feuded with his son Freddy Brazier, 21, over how much time he was spending with his grandmother Jackiey Budden, the mother of late Big Brother star Jade Goody. The Shipwrecked star’s other son, Bobby Brazier, 22, has also reportedly distanced himself from the star amid the family tensions.

Taking to Instagram on Boxing Day, the TV star reflected on his recent changes – and informed followers that he was learning to grow as a person amid all the turmoil. Sharing slides of a setting sun amid tree branches, Jeff opened up to those following the finer details of his life.

READ MORE: M&S’ coffee and cake hampers are now under £5 in time for Christmas giftingREAD MORE: Jeff Brazier’s marriage split and row with Ruth Langsford – star’s latest statement

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He wrote: “Feeling incredibly reflective and just sent this to a friend and wanted to share. My outlook is I’m used to carrying the heavy stuff and I honestly believe I can do that and thrive at the same time. Life will always push and pull it’s just at this point, the lessons are only making me more resourced and capable.”

Jeff went on: “I’m at the point of pure gratitude for the tough stuff because it has shown me how to become truly safe for anyone that needs me and that’s the man I want to be.”

And he continued on a second slide: “Why is being safe so important? Firstly when you come from a background of trauma in whichever form safety isn’t so easily found just because you’re in a new environment it’s a long hard road to creating it within yourself so that we don’t run those old trauma responses for the rest of our lives.

View 4 Images

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“Keeping people in your life safe as a man isn’t just a physical act of protection and when vulnerability and instability are in play everything becomes about holding space, providing an outlet, keeping the lines of communication open without judgement and giving the gentle truth when it’s being overlooked.

“I think being safe also requires an acceptance of the things we don’t control without trying to lead or fix. I don’t have to be the solutiion, I just need to be a constant and it’s taken me a while to give myself permission for this but it’s ok that I’m ok at times when somebody I love is going through something difficult. Ready to support but most importantly capable of coping.”

Jeff also hinted that he has patched things up with his sons when delivering a festive message on Christmas Day. Sharing a mirror selfie on Instagram Stories, he wrote: “Happy Christmas wonderful people. The boys and I shared it with my mum and brother, walks, naps, food, games and films. I hope you’ve had a lovely day too.”

Recently, Jeff opened up about his failed marriage – confirming last month that he and Kate had gone their separate ways earlier in the year. He wrote in an emotional statement: “I’m so full of love and gratitude for Kate.

“For all we achieved, for how much we grew, for everything we endured. We separated in the Summer and kept it private for as long as we could to give us some time to adjust. For 12 years we have been each others safe space, each others biggest supporters at a time when our lives have been busy, painful & complex.

“I’m so proud of how hard we worked, how we kept showing up, we gave everything and more. I’m also so full of respect and admiration for the successful career Kate has built and the way she cared for me unconditionally. It’s credit to the woman she is that she still checks in to ask how the boys are doing because she is so invested in their lives.”

Last month, Kate appeared to make reference to her marriage woes – while partying in Vegas with friends. In a social media post, she wrote: “Just an update: SIX PLANETS ARE IN RETROGRADE, so that’s why.” And she went on to share footage from raunchy club nights out – with women receiving lap dances from exotic dancers while onlookers cheered on.

Jeff Brazier has had a testing year – featuring the collapse of his marriage to Kate Dwyer and with drama involving his sons Bobby and Freddy. But he says he is learning from his experiences.

View 4 Images

Jeff Brazier has declared he is “becoming the man I want to be” following a testing year which saw his marriage collapse and his relationship with his sons become strained. The 46-year-old reality star split from 35-year-old Kate Dwyer in the summer – but they didn’t confirm their break-up until last month.

And further family drama has unfolded after Jeff feuded with his son Freddy Brazier, 21, over how much time he was spending with his grandmother Jackiey Budden, the mother of late Big Brother star Jade Goody. The Shipwrecked star’s other son, Bobby Brazier, 22, has also reportedly distanced himself from the star amid the family tensions.

Taking to Instagram on Boxing Day, the TV star reflected on his recent changes – and informed followers that he was learning to grow as a person amid all the turmoil. Sharing slides of a setting sun amid tree branches, Jeff opened up to those following the finer details of his life.

READ MORE: M&S’ coffee and cake hampers are now under £5 in time for Christmas giftingREAD MORE: Jeff Brazier’s marriage split and row with Ruth Langsford – star’s latest statement

View 4 Images

He wrote: “Feeling incredibly reflective and just sent this to a friend and wanted to share. My outlook is I’m used to carrying the heavy stuff and I honestly believe I can do that and thrive at the same time. Life will always push and pull it’s just at this point, the lessons are only making me more resourced and capable.”

Jeff went on: “I’m at the point of pure gratitude for the tough stuff because it has shown me how to become truly safe for anyone that needs me and that’s the man I want to be.”

And he continued on a second slide: “Why is being safe so important? Firstly when you come from a background of trauma in whichever form safety isn’t so easily found just because you’re in a new environment it’s a long hard road to creating it within yourself so that we don’t run those old trauma responses for the rest of our lives.

View 4 Images

View 4 Images

“Keeping people in your life safe as a man isn’t just a physical act of protection and when vulnerability and instability are in play everything becomes about holding space, providing an outlet, keeping the lines of communication open without judgement and giving the gentle truth when it’s being overlooked.

“I think being safe also requires an acceptance of the things we don’t control without trying to lead or fix. I don’t have to be the solutiion, I just need to be a constant and it’s taken me a while to give myself permission for this but it’s ok that I’m ok at times when somebody I love is going through something difficult. Ready to support but most importantly capable of coping.”

Jeff also hinted that he has patched things up with his sons when delivering a festive message on Christmas Day. Sharing a mirror selfie on Instagram Stories, he wrote: “Happy Christmas wonderful people. The boys and I shared it with my mum and brother, walks, naps, food, games and films. I hope you’ve had a lovely day too.”

Recently, Jeff opened up about his failed marriage – confirming last month that he and Kate had gone their separate ways earlier in the year. He wrote in an emotional statement: “I’m so full of love and gratitude for Kate.

“For all we achieved, for how much we grew, for everything we endured. We separated in the Summer and kept it private for as long as we could to give us some time to adjust. For 12 years we have been each others safe space, each others biggest supporters at a time when our lives have been busy, painful & complex.

“I’m so proud of how hard we worked, how we kept showing up, we gave everything and more. I’m also so full of respect and admiration for the successful career Kate has built and the way she cared for me unconditionally. It’s credit to the woman she is that she still checks in to ask how the boys are doing because she is so invested in their lives.”

Last month, Kate appeared to make reference to her marriage woes – while partying in Vegas with friends. In a social media post, she wrote: “Just an update: SIX PLANETS ARE IN RETROGRADE, so that’s why.” And she went on to share footage from raunchy club nights out – with women receiving lap dances from exotic dancers while onlookers cheered on.

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. From Victorian poisoners to modern hospital killers, these are Britain’s most notorious female serial killers, the women whose crimes shocked the nation, influenced policy and rocked public trust

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Serial killers are still overwhelmingly male; however, female serial killers have also made their mark throughout British history.

Whilst serial killers are mostly male, there are key differences in the way male and female serial killers operate, which is what often leads to female serial killers evading capture. Research reported byCrime Investigationsconcludes that male serial killers are nearly six times as likely to kill a stranger, whereas female serial killers are almost twice as likely to kill a person with whom they’re already familiar.

They even report that some 65.4 per cent of male serial killers, to one degree or another, stalked their victims before murdering them, compared to just 3.6 per cent of female serial killers. The motive and means for those who become their prey and eventual victims are very different. However, there are female serial killers throughout British history who have committed some of the country’s most shocking acts.

READ MORE: ‘Cosy’ slippers and ‘beautiful’ pyjamas that ‘help with night sweats’ are 20% offREAD MORE: Audible slashed to 99p a month offering another way to get Stranger Things fix

Speaking toRest Less, Associate Professor of Psychology, Marissa Harrison, from Penn State University, suggested that the “roles” assigned to each gender play a key role in explaining the way in which they kill. She said: “Historically, men hunted animals as prey and women gathered nearby resources, like grains and plants, for food. As an evolutionary psychologist, I wondered if something left over from these old roles could be affecting how male and female serial killers choose their victims.”

Through research for Harrison’s book, Just as Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers*, Harrison found that 39 per cent of female mass killers work in healthcare professions and are likely to be well educated. From quiet Victorian poisoners to modern hospital wards and killing sprees, these cases, when brought to light, have stunned the nation and sometimes reshaped how police, courts and the public view female violence. Here, the Mirror looks at some of Britain’s most infamous female serial killers.

Mary Ann Cotton

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Whilst being first at something is usually a good thing, this isn’t always the case, and Mary Ann Cotton has gone down in history as the first female serial killer in British history. Born in 1832, in West Auckland, County Durham, Cotton was widely believed to have killed three husbands, 10 children, a lover and her own mother, collecting life insurance for each.

After poisoning her stepson with arsenic, a rushed post-mortem and inquest declared his death was a case of natural causes. However, more tests and a second post-mortem revealed that the lad had been poisoned. Cotton was arrested, put on trial, and sentenced to be hanged in Durham Prison in 1873, and maintained her innocence right up until she was led to the gallows.

Cotton is said to have murdered an estimated 21 people during the mid-19th century; however, she was only sentenced for one murder. Cotton used arsenic poisoning to kill her victims, exploiting the fact that it was widely available and commonly used in household products. Many of her victims died shortly after she took out life insurance policies, raising suspicions only after years of unexplained deaths. Child mortality was tragically common, which also played a part in Cotton evading justice for years.

Myra Hindley

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Alongside her partner Ian Brady, Hindley was responsible for the Moors Murders, a series of child killings carried out in the 1960s. The pair abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered five children, burying several of their victims on Saddleworth Moor. Myra Hindley was born on July 23, 1942, in Manchester, United Kingdom and grew up with her grandmother. After the drowning death of a close male friend when she was 15, Hindley left school and converted to Roman Catholicism.

Hindley’s mugshot with platinum blonde hair and an unblinking stare became one of the most infamous images in British criminal history. Convicted in 1966, Hindley spent the rest of her life in prison and became the focus of intense debate over parole, which she never got. She died behind bars in 2002. Again, whilst there are differences between the male and female serial killers operate, Myra was an exception even to this rule; her crimes shattered the myth that women were incapable of extreme sadistic violence.

Rose West

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Rose West, along with her husband Fred West, committed disturbing crimes that Britain has ever seen. Together, they were responsible for the rape, torture and murder of at least nine young women and girls, including members of their own family. West was born Rosemary Pauline Letts on November 29, 1953, in Barnstaple, a small port town in southern England.

Her parents were Bill and Daisy Letts. It’s believed that electroconvulsive therapy administered to her pregnant mother for depression caused prenatal injury, contributing to Rose’s poor school performance and bouts of aggression growing up.

The full scale of the Wests’ crimes emerged in the 1990s when police excavated their Gloucester home, uncovering multiple bodies buried beneath the property. Unlike Fred, who took his own life in prison before trial, Rose was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

Beverley Allitt

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Beverly Allitt’s crimes might make you think of the modern-day conviction of Lucy Letby. A paediatric nurse, Allitt, murdered four children and attempted to kill several others while working at Grantham and Kesteven Hospital in the early 1990s.

The healthcare professional injected young patients with drugs and air, causing sudden collapses that initially baffled doctors. These deaths occurred over just 59 days, triggering an investigation that eventually exposed her actions. She was jailed in 1993 for life with a minimum term of 30 years.

Diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome by proxy, Allitt was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital. Her case led to major changes in hospital monitoring and patient safety procedures.

Present day

While historic cases dominate, very few murders in Britain meet the legal definition of a serial killer. However, there are two in our recent history that many might have heard of.

Lucy Letby

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In 2023, Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others while working as a neonatal nurse. Her crimes, carried out between 2015 and 2016, involved poisoning infants with insulin and interfering with breathing tubes. She was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of release, a punishment reflecting the scale and cruelty of her crimes.

The government has set up a public inquiry, chaired by Court of Appeal judge Lady Justice Thirlwall, to learn lessons from how a serial killer has apparently been operating in an NHS hospital unit.

Joanna Dennehy

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Joanna Dennehy murdered three men in Cambridgeshire in 2013 during a violent spree. Unlike many female serial killers, Dennehy’s violence was overt and public. After killing her third victim, Joanne Dennehy phoned her friend and sang the Britney Spears track “Oops I Did It Again” down the line. She showed no remorse and openly described enjoying the killings.

When sentencing her, the judge said the whole life term was merited because each of the three murders involved substantial degrees of premeditation or planning. He said she had a personality disorder and was diagnosed as suffering from paraphilia sadomasochism, a condition in which sexual excitement is derived from pain and humiliation. She was also described as being unable to exhibit a normal range of human emotions.

Female serial killers, whilst statistically rare, seem to avoid evasion in part because they are underestimated. Historic female killers show that extreme violence doesn’t shouldn’t be limited to gender. Having said that, in the examples of serial killers above, the majority of their crimes exploit positions of trust and domestic settings or caregiving roles, which is also what allows them to go undetected.