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Patsy Palmer’s Real Name Revealed on Celebrity Big Brother
Actress Patsy Palmer, known for her iconic role as Bianca Jackson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on ITV on Monday, April 7, prompting surprise among many viewers regarding her birth name. The celebrated performer, famed for her long-standing portrayal of the spirited Bianca Jackson on the popular drama EastEnders, has become a talking point due to this revelation.
From Walford to the Big Brother House
Palmer first appeared on EastEnders in 1993 and has made several returns to the fictional London borough of Walford over the years, including a recent stint leading up to the program’s 40th-anniversary special. Despite Bianca’s anticipated departure from EastEnders, Palmer has traded Albert Square for the confines of the Big Brother house. This move followed her disclosure on ITV’s This Morning that she was born Julie Anne Harris.
A Name Change in America
During the This Morning interview, Palmer explained that since moving to the United States, she has started using her given name, Julie Anne Harris, instead of her stage moniker, Patsy Palmer.
Speaking to the show’s presenters, she stated, “I have another name, my name is Julie really. So I thought I’m going to revert to using my actual name.”
“However,” she continued, “I become so confused myself, sometimes saying Patsy, sometimes Julie, that I end up confusing myself. Consequently, in Malibu, I am known as Patsy Julie.” The television personality further clarified, “My name is Julie Merkell, my married name.”

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Fan Reactions to the Revelation
Viewers at home expressed their astonishment on social media platform X. One user wrote: “I never realised this, but Patsy Palmer’s real name is Julie Merkell. That’s quite a significant shift from her professional name!”
Another viewer added: “Patsy Palmer’s actual name isn’t Patsy Palmer, why has this been concealed from me my entire life?”
The Story Behind Patsy Palmer
Palmer previously disclosed that her birth name, Julie Ann Harris, was shared with another established actress. To avoid confusion and create her own identity, she chose to use her mother’s maiden name, Palmer, and her mother’s nickname, Patsy.
Life in Malibu
In 2014, Palmer relocated to Malibu and embraced a different lifestyle as a DJ and wellness advocate, alongside occasional returns to EastEnders. She moved to America with her four children: Charley, 33; Fenton, 24; Emilia, 23; and Bertie, 13. Three of her children are with her husband, Richard Merkell.