Rita was last seen in Albert Square in 2017
Former EastEnders star Rita Simons has landed a huge new role – two years after her character Roxy Mitchell was killed off the BBC1 soap.
The actress is heading to London’s West End after bagging the part of Miss Hedge in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre.
Rita will start her new role on August 5 up until November 16. She replaces Steps star and former Strictly contestant, Faye Tozer.
Announcing the news on the show’s official Twitter page, a post read: “We're so delighted to announce that @OfficialRita will be stepping into those Jimmy Choos this August as Miss Hedge and we are SO excited about it! We cannot wait to have you join the #JamieLondon family!”
Rita replied to the tweet: “I’m coming to get ya! So excited! 👠❤️.”
Fans of the actress were thrilled with her new role, with one excitedly tweeting: “OH MY GOD IM SO READY FOR THIS!😍😍😍😍.”
Another said: “Been waiting to see this musical for so long! Now I have the perfect excuse 😉.”
And a third added: “I’m sooo booking to see you in this amazing product, you will be an awesome miss hedge 😃🥂❤️.”
Meanwhile, it looks like legendary EastEnders characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell could be returning to our telly screens.
Back in February during a joint appearance on Loose Women, Rita and her former on-screen sister Samantha Womack teased a reunion could be on the cards.
“We have talked about a few things,” Samantha admitted. “There are a couple of things that have been offered but it’s been obvious.”
When Andrea McLean then asked about a Ronnie and Roxy spin-off, Rita said, “It’s been two years. It’s like we’ve just been killed.
“It’s bizarre, people never forget. There’s been quite a lot of talk about stuff for us to do together.”
“We want to wait for the right thing,” Samantha added.
Roxy and Ronnie suffered a dramatic end two years ago when they drowned in a hotel swimming pool on Ronnie’s wedding day to Jack Branning.
