Patsy Palmer was among the famous faces to enter the ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday (April 7), and many fans have been surprised to learn her real name. The actress is best known for her long-running role as the fiery and outspoken Bianca Jackson on BBC’s beloved soap, EastEnders.

After making her debut appearance on the show in 1993, she continued to make sporadic returns to Walford, with her most recent being in the lead-up to the explosive 40th anniversary special, which she also starred in. Although Bianca’s exit has yet to hit the screens, the actress has swapped Albert Square for the Big Brother House. This came after she shocked This Morning viewers by revealing she was actually born Julie Anne Harris.

During her interview on the ITV programme, the actress shared that since relocating to America, she no longer goes by her stage name, Patsy Palmer.

She told the hosts: “I have another name, my name is Julie really. So I thought I’m going to get back to calling myself my real name.

"But I actually get so confused myself that sometimes I’ll say Patsy, sometimes I say Julie, and it’s like I confuse myself. So now, in Malibu, they call me Patsy Julie.” The TV star added: “My name is Julie Merkell, my married name.”

People watching at home were stunned, with user on X writing: "I never knew this, but Patsy Palmer's real name is Julie Merkell. That is such a big change for a stage name!" While someone else added: "Patsy Palmers real name isn’t Patsy Palmer, why have I been lied to my whole life??"

Palmer previously shared that her real name, Julie Ann Harris, was also the name of another established actress. Therefore, she opted to distinguish herself by adopting her mother's maiden name, Palmer, and her mother's pet name, Patsy.

The actress moved to Malibu in 2014 and embraced a completely different life as a DJ and lifestyle guru, alongside her occasional returns to Eastenders.

Palmer moved to America with her four children. She is a mother to four children: Charley, 33; Fenton, 24; Emilia, 23; and Bertie, 13, three of whom she shares with her husband, Richard Merkell.