EastEnders legend reveals she’s engaged as she flashes diamond ring in snap with fiance

AN EastEnders legend has revealed she is engaged to her long-term partner.

Rita Simons is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in the BBC soap, who wasn't particularly lucky in love.

But thankfully Rita is, as she shared a joyous snap with her new fiance Ben Harlow on Saturday afternoon.

In the Instagram picture, Rita can be seen showing off her engagement ring as she poses for the camera, while Ben beams for the camera as he sits beside her.

Captioning the post, Rita wrote: “… so this happened!”

The actress then added two sparkling ring emojis and an excited face.”

Rita’s friends and followers were quick to share their excitement at her big news as they flocked to the comments section underneath her post.

Blue singer Duncan James wrote: "Love u so much! Congrats to the both of u! Jadore !!"

Former Hollyoaks actress Stephanie Waring added: "Congratulations to you both" alongside a heart emoji.

And TV presenter Lisa Snowdon wrote: "Ahhhh congratulations" and a heart emoji.

Rita and theatre actor Ben first met in 2017 when they both starred in the touring production of hit musical Legally Blonde.

They started dating a couple of years later after Rita split with her first husband of 14 years, Theo Silveston.

The former couple had met in 2004 and welcomed twin daughters together before they separated in 2018.

Their divorce was finalised in 2020.

Rita joined EastEnders as Roxy in 2007 and became a fan favourite before she was brutally killed off alongside on-screen sister Ronnie in a tragic New Year storyline in 2017.

She went on to appear on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2018 before joining Hollyoaks last year as Marie Fielding.