Former EastEnders actress Pam St Clement has made a very rare appearance on social media as she celebrates her 80th birthday. Pam played the iconic Pat Butcher in the London soap for over two decades, but is known for keeping her personal life extremely private.
The star quit the show back in 2012 and ever since then she has worked hard to keep herself out of the limelight. The photo that has been shared on Instagram this week is the first time she has been pictured in over two years.
The sweet snap, shared by EastEnders star Kellie Shirley, left fans delighted on her big birthday on May 11.
In the picture, Pam has a huge grin on her face with her former co-star and her two children Louie and Pearl, reports The Mirror.
In her caption, Kellie makes reference to "Queen" Pam's legendary status on the series as she is one of EastEnders' longest-serving cast members.
Her caption read: "Happy birthday to the Queen of #Walford and total legend that is #pamstclement #80. So much love and so glad you're in our life!"
The post prompted an outpouring of love from fans, with many leaving warm birthday messages in the comment section. One fan wrote: "Happy birthday Pam, you legend. EastEnders ain't the same without you and them earrings."
Another said: "Pat is a legend of Albert Square. Watching back on classic episodes, you really do appreciate her and the character much more. Happy birthday, Pam."
Sharing a heartwarming memory, a third penned: "Working behind a bar in Hastings, Pam was staying at our hotel and could see I was struggling, so jumped behind the bar and started pouring the drinks. Happy birthday Pam! An absolute legend."
Pam's last public appearance dates back to 2020 when she gave an emotional interview. Fighting back tears at the time, Pam spoke of her sorrow after not being able to see her close friend and former co-star Dame Barbara Windsor.
Dame Barbara sadly died of Alzheimer's disease, aged 83, in a care home in December 2020. Speaking on ITV's This Morning at the time from her Oxfordshire home, Pam said it was Dame Barbara's husband Scott who updated her on his wife's deteriorating condition.
She said: "We've stayed in close contact. He's kept me up to speed as it were with everything that's been happening. "I've been out of the country for much of this year so I couldn't visit her, well nobody could visit her with the lockdowns and everything. It was impossible, which is sad in a sense because it means I haven't seen her for nearly a year and that is a sadness to me."
Barbara made her first appearance on EastEnders as Peggy Mitchell in 1994, and Pam previously recalled how she "felt like curtsying" when her co-star arrived on set.
