EastEnders' Rita Simons and Samantha Womack are being lined up for 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
Rita Simons
Hearts across the nation broke on New Year's Day (01.01.17) this year when the actresses' now-former alter-egos Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell met their ultimate end in a swimming pool on the businesswoman's wedding day, but bosses aren't ready to get rid of the double act just yet and are hoping to snap them both up for the upcoming series of the ballroom and latin show.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "It's fair to say that people are keen to sign at least one of them and if at all possible both of the girls for the new series.
"Obviously it's early days and lists are still being drawn up for potential candidates as there are all kinds of commitments that people have for the coming months.
"But it's said that the BBC are well aware of the anger from 'EastEnders' fans when it was announced the girls were to be axed from their roles - so the powers that be are convinced that signing them up would prove to be a sure fire ratings winner for the new series."
And if the blonde bombshells do manage to wiggle their way onto the line up, they won't be the only stars from the long-running BBC soap to try their luck on the dance floor as Jake Wood - who has just reprised his role as bad boy Max Branning in the show - took part in 2014.
And Rita - who was known for portraying wild child Roxy - has made no secret of the fact that she'd like to work with Samantha (who played Ronnie) again in the future.
She told BANG Showbiz: "Of course I'd love to work with Samantha again. Nothing has been arranged yet but we're like real life sisters. We talk all the time. I'd definitely work with her again."
The duo first arrived in Albert Square in 2007 and, after playing their roles for a decade, they announced their decision to bow out together. After months of wondering how they would leave, bosses eventually teased that a "big storyline" would see their alter egos written out for good.
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