Britain’s Got Talent star and EastEnders actress returns to hit show 12 years after making final

A FORMER Britain’s Got Talent finalist turned TV star will soon be returning to her roots.

EastEnders viewers know Molly Rainford as Anna Knight, who arrived in Albert Square last year.

Molly, 23, also participated in the 2022 series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing as a runner-up.

Before that, Molly competed on the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent aged just 11.

In her original audition, she sang a version of Jennifer Hudson’s One Night Only from the film Dreamgirls.

Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams put Molly through to the semi-finals, where she sang It Must Have Been Love by Roxette.

After finishing second in the public vote during her heat, Molly then advanced to the grand final.

Unfortunately, she missed out on the victory as Ashleigh and Pudsey claimed first place.

Opera duo Jonathan and Charlotte were the runners-up, while Molly herself finished in sixth place.

More than a decade after her stint, Molly is returning to the world of BGT through an upcoming appearance on BGT Reacts.

The format allows viewers to watch highlights of the latest series through the eyes of celebrity guests, who share their thoughts and opinions of the acts.

Molly will be joined by Strictly castmate turned boyfriend Tyler West as well as Ru Paul’s Drag Race runner-up Kitty Scott-Claus.

BGT Reacts airs on ITVX each week, with Molly’s episode dropping on Saturday, May 18.

The 23-year-old joined the cast of EastEnders alongside Colin Salmon as on-screen father George and Francesca Henry as on-screen sister Gina. 

Her storylines to date have seen Anna and Gina’s long-lost mother, Rose, be revealed to actually be Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), who was under witness protection.

Another estranged relative will soon return to the girls’ lives in the form of older half-brother Junior, who is played by former Emmerdale actor Micah Balfour.