Laila Morse SHADES EastEnders following Big Mo’s departure from the show

Biting the hand that feeds you (fed you) much, Mo?

eastenders laila morse big mo

by Georgina Terry and Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

Laila Morse - or Big Mo as her character is affectionately known - is an EastEnders legend, having starred on the BBC soap on and off for a whopping 22 years.

Mo has delighted fans with her wheeling and dealing since she arrived on Albert Square with the rest of the Slater clan (bring back Zoe Slater, tbh) in 2000. She departed Walford last year to go on a cruise with her lover Fat Elvis but made a guest appearance earlier this year.

Given her long-running stint on the show, you would have thought that Laila is EastEnders through and through - but she recently revealed her favourite soap and it definitely was NOT what we were expecting.

big mo eastenders
Laila first joined the cast of EastEnders back in 2000 ©BBC

The iconic soap star was quizzed about her favourite show on the red carpet of the TV Choice Awards when she admitted she'd rather tune into rival soap Emmerdale than EastEnders.

Speaking about the ITV soap, Laila told heat, "I've always watched it. I just think it's really nice and I enjoy it and that's why I watch it."

She added, "All the other soaps are good, but that is my favourite one."

Laila is just full of surprises, isn't she? We're still reeling from the fact that she's related to Hollywood A-lister Gary Oldman.

We've long sort of half-known that Laila is related by actual blood to the Harry Potter star, but it's one of those things that falls out of your head only to delight and astonish every time it returns.

Such as now.

Lailia Morse brother Gary Oldman
©Instagram / Gisele Schmidt

Back in 2018, pictures emerged on Instagram of Laila and her brother Gary having a lovely time together over Christmas as they spent the holidays together in the US.

The fun family snaps were shared by Gary’s wife Gisele Schmidt, who commented on the "proper English Christmas dinner" the siblings prepared.

"I remember Laila on come dine with me . Good luck guys 😂😂," commented one fan, waggishly.

"I love you big mo. You're a legend 🙌💖💖💖💖," wrote another.

"Love to see brother and sister together! ❤️," put another.

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