BBC EastEnders star 'penniless' and using food bank after hitting 'rock bottom'

A penniless BBC EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison broke down in tears in food bank after hitting rock bottom, it has emerged. BBC soap star Cheryl, known for playing Heather in the iconic soap EastEnders, has spoken out over her Cost of Living woes.

The actress hit rock bottom in February this year when spiralling debts left her penniless. The 60-year-old told the Mirror: “I sat there and cried and cried. It was shameful. How could I have been on EastEnders? How could I have been earning that much money and now I am here?

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I found it so difficult to be that vulnerable. But I didn’t have any money to do a weekly shop. I was trying to pay too many debts. Lots of people can relate to it. You’re trying to find a penny.

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"You’re literally looking down your settee to see if you can find a quid.” Cheryl has turned to a number of jobs to make ends meet, and also roped in the advice of Citizens Advice, after shooting to fame as Heather on the soap back in 2007.

Cheryl starred in Walford from 2007 for five years, with her departure coming back in 2012. Recently, the soap star and actress has started flogging tickets for the £15 Cheryl's Special a slap-up Chinese meal and performance at the restaurant.

And the star is now charging fans of Minute Mart employee Heather £50 to own one of her scripts from the soap - as well as five quid for postage. Cheryl is also offering signed pictures from her time in Walford at a cost of £5 plus postage fees.

As well as EastEnders, the actress previously starred in Celebrity Big Brother during its heyday on Channel 5, too.