Kacey Ainsworth: Little Mo, Grantchester & Her Son's Autism
6/23/202639 min
This week on A Night In with Sally Lindsay, we're joined by one of Britain's best-loved actresses, Kacey Ainsworth.
Reuniting on the sofa with her The Madame Blanc Mysteries co-star Sally Lindsay, Kacey reflects on a remarkable career spanning more than three decades in television. From becoming a household name as the much-loved Little Mo Slater in EastEnders to spending ten series on the hit ITV drama Grantchester alongside James Norton and Robson Green, she looks back on the roles, relationships and moments that have shaped her life both on and off screen.
In a candid and deeply personal conversation, Kacey opens up about some of the most challenging periods of her life, including the heartbreak of suffering a miscarriage shortly before winning Best Actress at the National Television Awards. She also speaks movingly about her son’s autism diagnosis, the lessons it has taught her, and the realities of navigating parenthood in the public eye.
Kacey further reflects on her childhood and the impact of growing up with a mother living with a life-threatening illness, sharing how those experiences helped shape the resilience and empathy she has carried throughout her life and career.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
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Sally Lindsay· Host0:30
Layla was still working at the bookies when we were on screen, and we kept saying to her, "Mo, you, you can't work at the bookies anymore. You're on EastEnders."
Kacey Ainsworth· Guest0:39
Yeah, of course. Yeah.
Sally Lindsay· Host0:39
So for eight weeks when she was on screen, she was working [laughs] at the bookies. She took me to my first audition when I was eight. Uh, and she... We went for a laugh, really. Long story short, got the part and I was on. People would talk about the honey wagon.
Kacey Ainsworth· Guest0:52
Yeah.
Sally Lindsay· Host0:52
And I thought the honey wagon was where you went and got your lunch.
Kacey Ainsworth· Guest0:55
Yes.
Sally Lindsay· Host0:55
The honey wagon is the toilet.
Kacey Ainsworth· Guest0:56
It's the toilets, yeah.
Sally Lindsay· Host0:57
And no one tells you about that.
Kacey Ainsworth· Guest1:00
Yeah.
Sally Lindsay· Host1:00
Today's guest is the mega talented actress, Casey Ainsworth, whose portrayal of Little Mo Slater in EastEnders earned widespread praise and helped create one of the show's most memorable characters. Since then, Casey's continued to build an impressive career across television and theater, appearing in many TV shows, including the amazing Grantchester and Holby City. With a career spanning more than three decades,