EastEnders actresses Samantha Womack and Rita Simons are ‘top of Strictly Come Dancing bosses wish list’ for next series in September

EASTENDERS’ Samantha Womack and Rita Simons could be coming back to the BBC after Strictly Come Dancing bosses put them top of their wish list for the new series.

Fans of the soap were left outraged after the actresses’ characters Ronnie and Roxy were killed off on New Year’s Day after meeting a watery fate in a hotel swimming pool.

But Strictly producers are hoping to won’t be long before the bubbly blondes are back on our screens and tapping their way towards the celebrity dancing show’s crown.

Speaking to the Sun, show insiders said Samantha, 44, and Rita, 39, are part of this year’s wish list for the September launch of series 15.

One said: “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.”

If the girls sign up, they will follow in the footsteps of their former co-star Jake Wood, who stars as Max Branning and got to the semi-final in 2014.

Samantha starred as Ronnie and Rita as Roxy for ten years, having first arrived on Albert Square in 2007.

In August last year, both sisters quit the soap after they were offered a “big storyline” which would see them written out of the soap for good.

Fan were left devastated after the pair were killed off during the New Year’s Day episode which saw Ronnie marry the love of her life, Jack Branning.

After having a few drinks together, the sisters headed to the swimming pool but drowned after Roxy had a heart attack and died, Ronnie jumped in to save her but was drowned after he wedding dress weighed her down.

Their death shocked fans who threatened to boycott the soap.

Meanwhile, The Sun revealed back in November that Strictly bosses are in talks with gold-medal winning heptathlete Jessica Ennis Hill to take part in the new series.

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