Former EastEnders actresses Samantha Womack and Rita Simons reunited for a beach day while ruling out any return to the BBC soap opera.
The pair played iconic onscreen sisters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, who drowned during a devastating New Year's Day episode in 2017. Samantha had previously departed the serial drama at the end of 2016.
Rita shared two photographs of the pair relaxing together on the beach on Instagram, but quickly dismissed fan theories suggesting a return to the soap was in the works.
In her social media caption, Rita wrote: "So… before anyone asks… we are just 2 mates hanging out. No secret signals we promise. Please don’t say it!"
She added: "We want to assure you…we are dead! We aren’t coming back…I am saying it now before the comments start. We loved every second of being R and R and we are still like sisters….but we are definitely [skull emoji]."
Rita concluded the post by teasing future collaborations, writing: "Working on some other exciting things together that we hope we will be able to tell you more about soon! Until then…it’s just me and @samzjanus being t**ts on the beach. Love you all."
EastEnders is a long-running British television soap opera produced by the BBC, broadcasting on BBC One since its debut in 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in East London, the show centers around the residents of Albert Square. The Mitchell family has remained one of the drama's core families, with Ronnie and Roxy introduced in 2007 as cousins of longtime character Phil Mitchell.
Theatre Tour Departure
Earlier this month, Samantha pulled out of the upcoming By Royal Appointment national theatre tour. She will be replaced in the production by Call The Midwife star Laura Main.
Samantha had originally been set to star alongside lead actress Jane Asher in the new UK touring stage show written by Daisy Goodwin.
Laura joins Jane, who portrays The Queen, alongside David Robb as The Designer and Matthew Cottle as The Milliner.
The play explores the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her Dresser, focusing on how the pair constructed the public image of Britain's longest reigning monarch.
A press release for the production stated: "The late Queen Elizabeth II was famous for her discretion. She never said anything in public that could ruffle the lightest of feathers. But she had one way of expressing what she really thought through her wardrobe."
By Royal Appointment is produced in partnership with Cambridge Arts Theatre, where the production opened on September 21 and runs until October 3.
Following its opening run in Cambridge, the tour is scheduled to visit the Nottingham Theatre Royal, Chelmsford Theatre, York Theatre Royal, Chichester Festival Theatre, Edinburgh King's Theatre, and Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury.
Call the Midwife is a widely acclaimed BBC period drama series detailing the work of midwives in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s. The UK regional theatre circuit regularly hosts major touring stage productions, enabling audiences outside London to experience nationally recognized drama productions.
Cryptic Posts and Relationship Speculation
Back in April, Samantha appeared to suggest that her relationship with partner Oliver Farnworth had come to an end.
She posted a photograph on Instagram taken in an outdoor hot tub, accompanying the image with the cryptic caption: "Alone again... naturally".
Her former EastEnders co-star Rita commented on the post: "Obv, love you", to which Samantha replied: "I've got you though."
The post prompted further speculation about Samantha's relationship with Oliver, 44, who plays villain John Sugden in the ITV soap Emmerdale.
Samantha's son Benjamin also commented on the hot tub photo, writing: "There's still time to delete this mum." Samantha responded: "I was going to say that about all your gym posts... what a coincidence."
Oliver previously played Andy Carver on Coronation Street from 2014 to 2017. He and Samantha began dating in 2019 after working together on a stage adaptation of The Girl On The Train.
Their romance began a year after Samantha separated from her husband Mark following 19 years of marriage. Samantha has two children, Lili-Rose, 21, and Benjamin, 25.
Emmerdale and Coronation Street are staple ITV soap operas that have aired for decades alongside EastEnders on British television. The Girl on the Train is a popular psychological thriller novel that was adapted into both a feature film and a successful touring stage play.
Health Battle and Move to Spain
Samantha relocated to Spain with Oliver following the death of her dog, which occurred just weeks after she received a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022.
She had rescued her dog Lola from Goa, India, in 2019 after she and her daughter Lili-Rose fell in love with the animal during a three-week holiday.
Samantha described Lola's passing as one of the worst days of her life, explaining that it brought the reality of her health struggles into sharp focus.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Samantha said: "She died on the same day as the Queen. I was devastated. It was one of the worst days of my life."
Samantha received the all-clear five months after her diagnosis. The emotional period prompted her decision to move to the Spanish city of Valencia.
Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain, situated on the country's eastern Mediterranean coastline. Goa is a coastal state in western India, internationally known for its beaches and animal welfare organizations.
