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EastEnders legend reflects proudly on powerful storyline ahead of 40th anniversary

Kacey Ainsworth has reflected on her character Little Mo's domestic abuse storyline.

Little Mo and Trevor in EastEnders. There is an RT Exclusive banner in the bottom right corner

BBC

Published: Wednesday, 5 February 2025 at 11:38 am

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This article contains discussion of domestic abuse that some may find upsetting.

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BBC soap EastEnders will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, and speaking exclusively with RadioTimes.com, one of its former stars has reflected on her character's powerful storyline.

Grantchester star Kacey Ainsworth played Maureen 'Little Mo' Slater between 2000 and 2006, and when asked if she feels proud to have been part of such an iconic, long-running show ahead of its 40th anniversary, she said: "Well, I can definitely say yes, really proud of the work that we all did there.

"We changed some of the landscape by being an all-female family who went in – that wasn't usual, and there were four of us."

Speaking specifically about Little Mo's storyline, in which she was abused by her husband Trevor, Ainsworth said: "I thought that the way they handled the domestic violence storyline did change the way people felt about domestic violence and made them understand coercive control and how difficult it might be to leave that situation.

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"Before that, I think we probably focused on the violent side of it, but it's the emotional as well as the physical side of it.

"It’s the emotional toll that it takes on women, and I think that they wrote it really well. So I'm really proud of that storyline and will be for the rest of my life."

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Since leaving EastEnders, Ainsworth has become known for playing Geordie's wife Cathy in ITV detective series Grantchester.

EastEnders will mark its 40th anniversary in numerous ways, including with an interactive live episode, where fans will be able to choose who out of Jack and Ravi Denise ends up with.

Meanwhile, the soap will feature a return for Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell, and the actor will also be presenting a new one-off documentary about the show's history for BBC One.

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EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

Authors

A head and shoulders shot of Abby Robinson. She is in front of a grey background, looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a black zipped-up jacket with an elaborate gold and maroon design

Abby RobinsonDrama Editor

Abby Robinson is the Drama Editor for Radio Times, covering TV drama and comedy titles. She previously worked at Digital Spy as a TV writer, and as a content writer at Mumsnet. She possesses a postgraduate diploma and a degree in English Studies.

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of James Hibbs, smiling against a lime green background.

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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