'I didn't show him my picture for FIVE months': Ex EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison, 51, reveals she hid her identity from now husband Yassine Al-Jermini, 30

By Rebecca Davison for MailOnline

Published: 08:56 EST, 27 January 2017 | Updated: 10:47 EST, 27 January 2017

They've been married for five years but former EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison reveals she didn't reveal her identity to Moroccan Yassine Al-Jermini for five months. 

Talking to Loose Women on Friday, the actress, 51, best known for playing hapless Heather Trott in the BBC1 soap, said she enjoyed an 'old-fashioned' courtship with her 30-year-old toyboy.

She said: 'We met online and wrote to one another on the computer and spoke on the computer. It was very old-fashioned. 

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'I didn't show him my picture': Ex EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison, 51, told Loose Women on Friday she hid her identity from now husband Yassine Al-Jermini, 30

 In love: The couple, pictured in 2011, have been married for five years and she said: 'I met him and it was like "ping". I knew he was the man I was going to marry'

'He didn't know what I did for a living. I didn't show him my picture. It was five months of chat before we met each other.

'I saw him and it was like "ping". I knew he was the man I was going to marry and I had been married once before.'

Addressing the 21-year age gap, Cheryl said that 'age doesn't matter' and 'no one blinks when a man does it.' 

Standing up for herself: Addressing the 21-year age gap, Cheryl said that 'age doesn't matter' and 'no one blinks when a man does it'

Proud: When Nadia Sawalha (left) asked her if she had been worried about meeting Yassine for the first time, she said: 'In life, you've got to take a chance'

She continued: 'Thank goodness we're not all the same. I think do whatever you are comfortable with'

She continued: 'Thank goodness we're not all the same. I think do whatever you are comfortable with.'

Nadia Sawalha asked Cheryl if she had felt 'worried' about meeting Yassine at the time?

She replied: 'I know people could end up looking like Princess Fiona from Shrek or could get catfished. But in life, I think you have to take a chance.

'If it doesn't work out and if you fall on your backside, pick yourself up and dust yourself off. Do what you want and don't let anyone tell you, you can't.' 

Shopkeeper Yassine moved to Britain permanently in 2011 after the couple married at the Selsdon Park Hotel & Golf Club in Surrey following an 18-month romance.

Throwback: The actress, 51, best known for playing hapless Heather Trott in the BBC1 soap (pictured), said she enjoyed an 'old-fashioned' courtship with Yassine

Superfan: Cheryl paid tribute to George Michael following his death with this picture of them - she said: 'He used to send presents, writing: "To a fan, from a fan, love George".'

The Loose Women panel had mistakenly referred to him as a goat herder but Cheryl corrected them on their mistake.

'Erm, we haven't got any goats. He's never been a goat herder,' she said. 'Perhaps if he had goats, we would be richer. He's not the Del Boy of Morocco.

'Chico was a goat herder, so you might have got it confused.'

Cheryl, who has a son, Alex, 17, said that she misses being in EastEnders and would love to find a way to return, despite her character being killed by Ben Mitchell in 2012.

She said: 'It was a brilliant time in my life. I still see a lot of the cast. I would like to come back as Heather's Scottish sister and be called 'Leather Trott.'

Iconic: Cheryl, who has a son, Alex, 17, said that she misses being in EastEnders and would love to find a way to return, despite her character being killed by Ben Mitchell in 2012

She said: 'It was a brilliant time in my life. I still see a lot of the cast. I would like to come back as Heather's Scottish sister and be called 'Leather Trott'

Busy lady: Cheryl will now be busy starring in Menopause: the musical, from February 7

Lovely look: Cheryl posed backstage wearing a floral mini dress and knee high boots 

Heather was famously a huge fan of George Michael and Cheryl is too and was left devastated by his untimely death on Christmas Day. 

Her character's voice had spookily appeared on a cassette played by Dot Cotton on the Christmas episode and Cheryl talked about meeting the pop icon. 

She said: 'I met him and he spoke to me about storylines I had been in. He used to send presents, writing: "To a fan, from a fan, love George".

'You cannot deny he was a talent. He had a beautiful soul and a gorgeous voice. If you don't like him, you must be an alien.' 

Cheryl will now be busy starring in Menopause: the musical, from February 7. 

Weird: Her character's voice had spookily appeared on a cassette played by Dot Cotton on the Christmas episode and Cheryl talked about meeting the pop icon

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