People are only just realising that Patsy Palmer isn’t actually her real name.
The soap star, 52, who became a household name thanks to her role as Bianca Jackson on EastEnders, actually goes by a completely different name.
Patsy actually adopts her married name when she’s hunkered down in her Malibu abode as she previously revealed Americans don’t know who she is.
The actress has built a serene life by the beach, after re-locating with her family back in 2014.
Yet while rubbing shoulders Stateside with the likes of supermodel Cindy Crawford, she goes under her married name Julie Merkell.
However, the TV star’s birth name is in fact Julie Anne Harris.
People are only just realising that Patsy Palmer isn’t actually her real name
The soap star, 52, who became a household name thanks to her role as Bianca Jackson on EastEnders, actually adopts her married name when she’s hunkered down in her Malibu, where she has lived since 2014
During an appearance on This Morning in 2019, Patsy said: ‘They [fans] don’t know me [in America] and 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 and sometimes I’ll say Julie. So now in Malibu they call me Patsy Julie.
‘Julie Anne Harris was my name, my married name is Julie Merkell’.
After joking that the two names even leaves herself confused at times, Patsy claimed that maybe she needs to go on Who Do You Think You Are to work it all out.
Patsy’s real name being revealed comes ahead of her entering ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother on Monday night.
Patsy is said to have been offered £100,000 for her time on the show, which is reported the ‘going rate’ for a long-running soap icon.
She is set to join the likes of Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, dancer Jojo Siwa, presenter Trisha Goddard and TOWIE’s Ella Rae Wise.
Last year, Sharon Osbourne earned a whopping £800,000 for just an eight day stint as a ‘celebrity lodger’, with her pal Louis Walsh taking home £500,000.
Yet while Stateside, Patsy goes under her married name Julie Merkell, however the TV star’s birth name is in fact Julie Anne Harris
![During an appearance on This Morning in 2019, Patsy said: 'They [fans] don't know me [in America] and I have another name. My name is Julie really, so I thought, I'm going to get back to calling myself my real name'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/04/07/11/15028678-14579209-Hotly_anticipated_return_Patsy_admitted_she_was_exhausted_when_s-a-13_1744022092122.jpg)
During an appearance on This Morning in 2019, Patsy said: ‘They [fans] don’t know me [in America] and I have another name. My name is Julie really, so I thought, I’m going to get back to calling myself my real name’
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Celebrity Big Brother cast's pay 'REVEALED' as one star earns £480k MORE than lowest paid housemate
This year, Hollywood heavyweight Mickey is the highest paid housemate, with the actor’s earnings being a whopping £480,000 more than the lowest paid star.
Meanwhile reality star Ella is this year’s lowest earning housemate with the blonde bombshell taking home £20,000.
It comes as the Celebrity Big Brother house has been hit by a huge shake up, as first look snaps of the newly-transformed garden reveal a surprise new addition.
Stars including Corrie’s Jack P Shepherd, Love Island’s Chris Hughes and singer Chesney Hawkes are moving into the famous house, and ahead of the new series it’s been given a starry makeover.
While first look images of the house were revealed on Friday, now fans have been treated to a glimpse of the garden.
But while many of the classic features remain, including the colourful pain-splattered decor and a steamy hot tub, there is one noticeable new feature.
Following the removal of the mezzanine inside the house, instead the garden features a brand new den, the perfect spot for housemates to sneak off for a private chat.
The snug space, which boasts plenty of cosy soft furnishings, boasts end-to-end windows which offer an all-angles view of the rest of the garden.
Patsy’s real name being revealed comes ahead of her entering ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother where she is said to have been offered £100,000 for her time on the show
The garden also boasts huge glass doors leading into the house, and thanks to a change to the interior layouts, housemates are now able to be seen from all angles, offering little room to escape.
A source told : ‘The addition of a ‘‘gossip den’’ will definitely shake things up this year, as celebrities will have a new spot to escape to for cosy chats, or spicy debriefs.’
‘It could also lead to even more drama, as it gives a clear view of the entire garden, meaning any stars having a cheeky chinwag outside could be caught in the act.
‘It’s clear that this year’s house is definitely more claustrophobic than previous series, and for some celebrities it could be their toughest challenge yet.’
This year’s house, which has been built in a brand new location, is significantly smaller than the one which featured in the civilian series last year, meaning there are little spots for stars to escape to when they need a moment to themselves.
CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER 2025: MEET THE LINEUP!
MICKEY ROURKE
AGE: 72
FAMOUS FOR: The actor and former pro boxer is one of the show’s biggest ever signings and after public feuds with Robert De Niro, two marriages and a string of high profile relationships, producers will be hoping he brings plenty of drama.
DALEY THOMPSON
AGE: 66
FAMOUS FOR: The double Olympic gold-medallist is considered one of Britain’s greatest athletes, and he would no doubt cause a stir with younger celebrities if he entered the house. He broke the decathlon world record four times.
PATSY PALMER
AGE: 52
FAMOUS FOR: It’s an open secret that Patsy is leaving EastEnders, with the actress enjoying a wild leaving party this month. The Bianca Jackson star posted a snap of her character on Instagram with the caption: ‘Bye bye B, always grateful to see her again.’
DONNA PRESTON
AGE: 38
FAMOUS FOR: While Donna has featured in several TV shows and movies, the comedy star is known for hosting Apocalypse and for the role of a circus Compere in 2018’s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald. She plays Den in Coronation Street, has featured in Pants On Fire in 2019 and even wrote and co-produced BBC Three’s Comedy Threesomes.
CHESNEY HAWKES
AGE: 53
FAMOUS FOR: The singer topped the charts for five weeks in 1991 with his hit The One And Only, before making a string of acting and TV appearances. His arrival on CBB has been described by a TV source as ‘perfect timing’, as he’s set to release a comeback album in April.
ANGELICA BELL
AGE: 49
FAMOUS FOR: The TV presenter is said to have landed a staggering five-figure deal to appear on Celebrity Big Brother. Fans will be keen to see if the CBBC legend spills all on her untimely exit from The Martin Lewis Show – which left fans baffled back in 2023. Angellica currently co-presents Hits Radio while Fleur East is on maternity leave.
DANNY BEARD
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: The RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner – whose real name is Daniel Curtis – has signed up as a late entry. Danny previously made headlines after swearing on Big Brother’s Late & Live last March whilst doing an impression of housemate Louis Walsh. The incident saw the guest say the word ‘c***’ before immediately apologising after being informed they weren’t allowed to say that on the show.
CHRIS HUGHES
AGE: 32
FAMOUS FOR: After shooting to fame on Love Island in 2017, Chris went on to become a sports presenter and regularly hosts the horse racing coverage on ITV.
JOJO SIWA
AGE: 21
FAMOUS FOR: The American singer, who shot to stardom on reality show Dance Moms, is expected to draw a big American audience. The hitmaker has made a name for herself in the U.S. pop charts and is known for her outlandish looks and being a vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community.
TRISHA GODDARD
AGE: 67
FAMOUS FOR: The talk show host regularly presented on ITV from 1998 to 2004 and then shifted to Channel 5 from 2004 to 2010. Trisha has been suffering horrible side effects of her chemotherapy – but has bravely battled on.
JACK P. SHEPHERD
AGE: 37
FAMOUS FOR: The actor has played David Platt in Corrie since 2000 and is following in his pal Colson Smith’s footsteps by taking part in the popular reality show. He has won a string of awards for the role including Best Actor at the British Soap Awards.
ELLA RAE WISE
AGE: 24
FAMOUS FOR: Producers have been keen to land the TV personality, who previously dated Pete Wicks and has had an on-off romance with Dan Edgar. Bosses are hoping the TOWIE star might reveal all about some of her other famous exes.
MICHAEL FABRICANT
AGE: 74
FAMOUS FOR: The former Conservative politician is understood to have signed a lucrative six-figure deal to take part after political stars were banned from the broadcaster’s other reality show, I’m A Celeb. He served as MP for Lichfield in Staffordshire from 1992 until his defeat in 2024 as well as vice-chairman of the party under David Cameron. But he is perhaps best known for his blonde mop for which he has been widely ridiculed but repeatedly denies is a wig.