Clair Norris to star in BBC documentary about her obesity

EastEnders actress Clair Norris is set to star in a BBC documentary about her obesity struggles.

The actress, 24, – who has played student Bernie Taylor in the BBC soap since 2017 – announced the news on Instagram on Friday as she urged fans to ‘be kind’.

She told how she had been on a ‘journey’ while filming the documentary over four months and promised she will share experiences she has until now ‘kept to herself’.

Sharing a snap of her editing the show she penned in the caption: ‘COMING SOON!!! Over the last 4 months I have been working with BBC Panorama, documenting and reporting on a topic that relates to me and I’m sure a lot of you will have your own opinions.

‘This has been a chance to show ME! No character and no acting. I have been on a journey, meeting new people, going back to my childhood and sharing my own personal experiences which most of the time I have kept to myself.

‘I can’t wait for everyone to see this project but it’s important for me to say…please always be kind. BBC Panorama – Obesity: Who Cares if I’m Bigger?’

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbx2gJUDjSr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Many rushed to the comments section to congratulate the star. One fan wrote: ‘I look forward to it.’

Another said: ‘This is amazing, and so are you. Don’t let anyone tell you anything different, everyone has a story to tell and this is yours.’

A third penned: ‘Ur so incredible can’t wait to see it xxx.’

Over the past year Clair has been involved in a big EastEnders storyline as she became a surrogate mother for Stuart and Rainie Highway.

In October the soap star decided to take a break from the show – to film the documentary – but earlier this week returned to the Square and shocked fans when she went into labour.

In July last year, her character Bernie became fixated on losing weight because she thought it would give her a better chance of becoming pregnant for the Highways.

She started taking diet pills to shed the pounds and many scenes highlighted Bernie’s body confidence issues as well.

The soap star revealed that it was her idea to incorporate them into the storyline.

Clair told Digital Spy last year: ‘With the diet pills and the weight loss, I actually went forward with Kate [Oates] and suggested it.

‘Luckily it kind of just slipped in nicely with the surrogacy storyline. It was great that we could pay out two stories and it kind of linked together.’

Since shooting to fame in 2017, Clair has revealed that she often gets trolled for her weight but last summer wrote a powerful message in response to it.

Clair said on Instagram: ‘Don’t normally react, but I have seen some really nasty comments on pictures from soap awards regarding my size…

‘I could get upset but when I put it into perspective I just laugh.’

The BBC favourite added: ‘I love my job and I get to do something that I am so passionate about EVERYDAY and with the support from family and friends I am living my best life!!!!’

It comes after last year she confirmed on Twitter that she had moved in with her boyfriend Lewis Wood.

Writing beneath a photo of a wooden block calendar on social media in January, Clair revealed: ‘My mum just bought this for me and @lewisswood for when we move out next year.

‘No one has touched the numbers etc (literally just been bought). I noticed it said April 2nd which is a special day for three reasons…

‘It’s my anniversary, it’s Lewis’s birthday and it’s the first time I ever saw Lewis.’

She added: ‘Long story short… I checked the dates and I met Lewis on Monday 2nd April 2018. What are the chances?’

She also penned in the accompanying caption: ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ (sic)