EastEnders star Rita Simons has suggested a reunion for sisters Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell – but with a twist. The two stars exited the BBC soap as the characters nearly nine years ago, but despite being killed off, fans have been clamouring for a comeback.
Rita has been busy over the past year in Hollyoaks, though left the soap this year, which has renewed speculation over an EastEnders return.
While nothing has been confirmed (and given they are both dead, it would present some challenges), Rita has used her and Samantha Womack’s respective panto season commitments as an excuse to propose a unique way to work together again.
Sharing an Instagram picture from a call they recently shared, the star wrote: “Tech rehearsals this is what we do on our breaks @samzjanus. We need to play the ugly sisters together?! #r&r.”
Ronnie and Roxy died at the start of 2017 when the latter suffered a heart attack in a swimming pool during her sister’s wedding, after which Ronnie dived in to save her only to drown due to her wedding dress.
Related: Best streaming services
Speaking recently about a potential comeback, Samantha told MailOnline: “The fanbase for Ronnie and Roxy is extraordinary. They still to this day go loopy when they hear there’s any sort of chance we could come back. I don’t know [how we’d come back]. The only way is that they could possibly say that we didn’t actually die. I don’t know.”
“It’s a big commitment,” she added. “I know only too well what those working days are like. But I have a strong affection for the show, I love everyone there and I miss everyone there. I loved working with Rita. It felt silly, it felt fun, we were controversial, we were naughty.”
BBC
Related: EastEnders sets up bombshell return in dangerous Zoe Slater cliffhanger
The star admitted she would “never say never” to returning, adding: “I’m old enough and ugly enough to realise you never close the door on anything.”
Samantha also revealed that being axed from the soap hit her and Rita “both so hard” and “felt like bereavement”.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
The new edition of Living Legends, celebrating music icon Dolly Parton, is here! Buy Dolly at 80 in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.