With so many popstars turning up in the soaps, we look at some of the most memorable switches from singing to acting

Who knew that the pop world would be such a fertile grounding for a career in our most beloved TV programmes! Meet the pop stars who went on to appear in some of our favourite soaps...

1. Lee Ryan - EastEnders

A former member of boy band Blue who had hits with All Rise and One Love, and a solo career, too. Lee is no stranger to acting as he starred in Holby City as a teenager. He recently joined the cast of EastEnders as bar manager Harry ‘Woody’ Woodward who rubbed the Carters up the wrong way during his temporary stint in the Queen Vic. Although he was booted out by Mick, who caught him in bed with Whitney, bad boy Woody is set to return later in the year.

Watch Lee singing his solo hit I Am What I Am...

https://youtu.be/b_kqoJJVDkE

2. Duncan James - Hollyoaks

Also a member of Blue, Duncan enjoyed all the group's success and their 2011 appearance as the UK's entry in Eurovision. He joined the cast of Hollyoaks in 2016 as policeman Ryan Knight, who was in a relationship with Amy Barnes, but he was recently outed as bisexual as it’s been revealed that the night Amy was murdered, Ryan spent the night with Kyle (played by former Corrie star Adam Rickitt, who himself tried a pop career back in the 1990s.)

Duncan in Eurovision 2011 with Blue...

https://youtu.be/y1dXMWWq6y8

3. Martin Kemp in EastEnders

Along with his brother Gary, Martin played guitar in the hugely successful 1980s band Spandau Ballet, who’ve had numerous hits including the classic love song True. He joined the cast of EastEnders as villainous nightclub owner Steve Owen in 1998, who murdered his old flame Saskia Duncan and then framed Mathew Rose (Joe Absolom) for the crime. Steve Owen was dramatically killed off in 2002 when his car exploded in a fireball as he was being chased by Phil Mitchell.

Watch Martin with Spandau Ballet performing True...

https://youtu.be/ldXgK71pgxs

4. Kym Marsh - Coronation Street

Kym rose to fame on ITV’s Popstars in 2001 which saw her win a place in the manufactured band Hear’Say. Although she quit soon after to go solo, she then turned to acting and landed the role of Rovers Return barmaid Michelle Connor in 2006. Kym recently won a British Soap Award for a harrowing storyline involving her and husband Steve losing their baby to stillbirth. She constantly wins plaudits for her Corrie performances.

Watch Kym with Hear'Say on Top Of The Pops in 2001...

https://youtu.be/q_hMSrLhvlg

5. Keith Duffy - Coronation Street

After the break up of Irish supergroup Boyzone in 2000, Keith was offered the part of Rovers Return barman Ciaran McCarthy in Coronation Street in 2001. He was in the soap for three years as trouble-maker Ciaran, but then made a return in 2010 before quitting again when Boyzone reformed for a reunion tour.

Watch Boyzone, with Keith, performing Love Me For A Reason in 1994...

https://youtu.be/w2BmYZkODlg

6. David Essex - EastEnders

A teenage heartthrob in the 1970s with hits including Hold Me Close and Gonna Make You A Star, David proved his acting prowess in films such as That'll Be The Day and Stardust as well as playing Ché Guevara in the West End music Evita! He turned up in Albert Square in 2011 as Alfie’s uncle, charmer Eddie Moon, who was the father of Michael, Tyler and Anthony. Although he was only in the soap for six months, Eddie managed to have affairs with both Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson) and Vanessa Gold (Zoe Lucker)!

Watch David on Top of The Pops in 1975 performing Hold Me Close...

https://youtu.be/9G2lqY3Nuk0

7. Suzanne Shaw – Emmerdale

A member of the band Hear’Say along with Kym Marsh, Suzanne joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2010 as Eve Jenson, the mischievous granddaughter of Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox). She was a bit naughty, and had an affair with Carl King (Tom Lister) who was in a relationship with Chas at the time. Having made many enemies in the village, Eve decided to jet off to Mexico and left the soap in August 20111.

Watch Suzanne in Hear'Say singing Bridge Over Troubled Water....

https://youtu.be/rr1cTTEG8s0

8. Alvin Stardust - Hollyoaks

The late singer who had hits with My Coo Ca Choo and I Feel Like Buddy Holly, appeared in Hollyoaks as Greg Andersen, the landlord of the pub, The Dog In the Pond, in 1995. His on-screen daughter Natasha (Shebah Ronay) died following a drug problem and Greg sold the pub to his sister Celia and her husband Jack Osborne, leaving the soap in 1996 to go back to the US.

Watch Alvin sing his 1974 hit My Coo Ca Choo...

https://youtu.be/J4Y93Qucbt0

9. Shayne Ward – Coronation Street

After winning the second series of The X Factor in 2005, Shayne had a few hits and appearances in stage musicals before he joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2015 as Carla’s cousin Aidan Connor who works in the factory with his dad Johnny. Although he’s engaged to Eva, he’s secretly been having an affair with hairdresser Maria.

 Watch Shayne win The X Factor...

https://youtu.be/8aQ2i2UvnCE

10. Samantha Womack – EastEnders

Aged just 18, Samantha represented the UK in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest finishing 10th with her song A Message to Your Heart which peaked at No 30 in the UK singles chart. After acting in a number of TV shows including Game On, Pie In The Sky and Liverpool One. She joined EastEnders in 2007 as Ronnie Mitchell, who turned up in Albert Square with her sister, Roxy, for their cousin Phil’s wedding to Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) and helped run The Queen Vic while their aunt Peggy (Barbara Windsor) was on holiday. Ronnie ended up running the nightclub R&R with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) who later became her husband. Ronnie and Roxy died in January 2017 on the night of Ronnie’s second wedding to Jack.

Watch teenager Sam at Eurovision...

https://youtu.be/rdtglC5k320

11. Rita Simon - EastEnders

The niece of The Apprentice’s Lord Sugar, Rita was in the girlband Girls@Play who had a couple of hits with Airhead and a cover of Mel and Kim’s Respectable before she left to join another group called Charli, who had a with Feel Me. She joined EastEnders in 2007 as Roxy Mitchell who moved to Albert Square with her sister Ronnie after they’d run a bar together in Ibiza. The sisters died together earlier this year on Ronnie's wedding night.

Watch Rita sing Airhead with Girls@Play...

https://youtu.be/ZNdoZU5PwXE

12. Sarah Harding - Coronation Street

Sarah was a contestant in ITV's 2002 talent show Pop Stars The Rivals, which saw her voted into the winning girl group Girls Aloud. This supergroup had 20 top 10 hits with songs such as Love Machine, Sound Of the Underground and Wake Me Up. Sarah later turned her attention to acting with a part in the BBC drama Freefall and the film St Trinian's 2: The legend of Fritton's Gold.

In 2015 she joined Coronation Street as Joni, the wife of returning character Robert Preston (Tristan Gemmill), but left later that year...

Watch Sarah in Girls Aloud action, with their first hit Sound of The Underground...

https://youtu.be/V9Wv4SCBiTE

13. Wendy Richard – EastEnders

Wendy topped the pop charts back in 1962 when she appeared on the single Come Outside, by Mike Sarne, long before she became famous as matriarch Pauline Fowler in EastEnders, a role she played from the very first episode in 1985 until her character’s death at Christmas in 2006. Pauline’s storylines focused on her family troubles, her money worries and bullying of her downtrodden husband Arthur. In 2007 she won a British Soap Award for Special Achievement, but Wendy sadly died in 2009 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Listen to Wendy with Mike Sarne...

https://youtu.be/5aMIAiseHP4

14. Brian Hibbard –  Coronation Street, Emmerdale, EastEnders

Welsh singer Brian was a member of The Flying Pickets who had a famous Christmas No 1 in 1983, with an a cappella version of Only You, a cover of the big Yazoo hit.

The Flying Pickets with their famous Christmas hit...

https://youtu.be/8kjXfDpS4EI

The former miner went into acting and appeared in Coronation Street as garage mechanic Doug Murray, who worked alongside Kevin Webster (see above). He then joined Emmerdale as Bobby-John Downes, played Johnny Mac in Welsh soap Pobol Y Cwm, then appeared as Henry Mason in EastEnders in 2011.

Brian sadly died in June 2012.

EastEnders' Samantha Womack and Corrie's Les Dennis are to co-star in a touring musical based on The Addams Family in 2017

Soap stars Samantha Womack and Les Dennis have signed up to star in a musical production of The Addams Family.

Samantha, 44, who is leaving EastEnders after almost a decade playing Ronnie Mitchell, has been cast as matriarch Morticia in the show.

Les, 63, whose final Coronation Street scenes as Michael Rodwell air on Friday night, has been cast as Uncle Fester in the musical comedy.

The stars playing Morticia’s husband Gomez and son Pugsley are yet to be announced, while stage actress Carrie Hope Fletcher will play daughter Wednesday Addams in the tour, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams.

The family originally appeared as cartoon characters before being adapted into a black and white TV series in the 1960s.

In the musical, Wednesday Addams, 'the ultimate princess of darkness… has grown up and has a shocking secret … she’s fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family'.

The Addams Family opens at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, on April 20 next year.

Rita Simon to leave EastEnders! Star follows Samantha Womack out of Albert Square

A newspaper report claims that EastEnders' Ronnie Mitchell will drown in a pool on her wedding day as she tries to save sister Roxy

As soap deaths go, this is definitely set to be a memorable one… We’ve known for a while now that Samantha Womack and Rita Simons’ EastEnders characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell will be leaving Albert Square over the festive period.

But now it seems like the sisters are due to meet a grisly end at New Year – and apparently, Ronnie will be killed by her own wedding dress.

According to The Sun, the tragedy is set to happen on Ronnie’s wedding day, which will end in a double death when both sisters drown at the venue.

Ronnie, played by Samantha, is remarrying former husband Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), but at the reception it’s reported that Roxy (Rita) will get jealous as she used to be in a relationship with Jack, too, and will drown in the swimming pool after having too much to drink.

The bride will be the one to find her, but when she jumps in after her sister, will find herself weighed down by her own billowing wedding dress before drowning in the pool, too.

An EastEnders source told The Sun: “It’s a slightly ridiculous way to go. It must be the first time in soap history anyone has been killed by an item of their clothing.

“Ronnie has been through some grim storylines in her time in Walford, it’s only fitting that she goes in a similar fashion. The scenes are going to be hard to watch.”

Ronnie’s had a tough time in Walford since arriving in 2007, with heartbreak including miscarrying after being pushed into the Queen Vic bar by dad Archie, who had abused her as a child; losing her baby with Jack to sudden infant death syndrome, then snatching Kat Slater’s baby as a replacement and being jailed for two years; and watching her long-lost daughter, who she had believed died in infancy, run over and killed in the Square just after finding out who she was.

Samantha and Rita have been spotted on location filming the scenes, with Samantha in a wedding gown and Rita wearing what looks like a bridesmaid’s dress.

Rita tweeted her emotion at what may have been the filming day for her exit from the BBC One soap.

Looks like it’s set to be yet another grim holiday season in Walford...

Just days after Samantha Womack announced she was leaving EastEnders, on-screen sister Rita Simons says she's bowing out, too

EastEnders actress Rita Simons is to leave the soap after nine years as Roxy Mitchell.

A spokesman for the BBC soap confirmed to the Press Association that a mutual decision had been made regarding her exit.

This follows news last week that Samantha Womack, who plays her on-screen sister Ronnie Mitchell, is also departing.

A statement from the show read: “We can confirm that Rita Simons will be leaving EastEnders.

“Having joined the show in 2007, Rita immediately won the hearts of the audience in the role of Roxy Mitchell and between her and Samantha Womack they created one of the most iconic duos EastEnders has ever seen.

“Alongside Samantha, Rita was recently offered to take part in the same big storyline that will see the Mitchell sisters depart Walford, but we will not be releasing any further details at this time. We wish Rita all the best for the future.”

In her role as Roxy, Rita has been involved in several major storylines over the years, often involving her character’s relationships with the likes of Sean Slater and Alfie Moon.

The 39-year-old actress has also tackled an attempted rape storyline, which saw Roxy attacked by Dean Wicks.

Samantha was revealed to be leaving the long-running serial drama last week and will say goodbye to Albert Square next year.

She is thought to have made the decision after the BBC soap’s boss Sean O’Connor offered her a dramatic exit plot.

Walford stalwart Peggy Mitchell, played by Dame Barbara Windsor, said her final farewell this year after taking her own life in a controversial storyline.

It marked the TV veteran’s departure from the soap after playing the former Queen Vic landlady on and off since 1994.

EastEnders’ executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins stepped down from his position in May and was replaced by The Archers’ editor Sean.

After almost a decade playing EastEnders' Ronnie Mitchell Samantha Womack is leaving Albert Square in the soap's biggest exit ever

Since she first showed up on Albert Square in 2007 Ronnie Mitchell has become one of EastEnders' best-loved characters. But, after almost a decade on the BBC1 soap, actress Samantha Womack, who plays Ronnie, has decided to leave Walford.

Samantha apparently "jumped at the chance" to be part of an explosive story that will see her character Ronnie depart the square early next year. The 43-year-old was offered the dramatic exit plot by EastEnders' boss Sean O'Connor.

An EastEnders spokesman said: “We can confirm that Samantha Womack will be leaving EastEnders.

“Samantha has created an iconic character in Ronnie Mitchell, having superbly played out many of EastEnders’ biggest moments.

“However, Samantha was recently offered a big storyline which she happily accepted that leads to Ronnie departing Walford.

“We wish Samantha all the best for the future.”

Ronnie's exit is sure to be something pretty spectacular. During her nine years on the soap Ronnie has been involved in some of the show's biggest storylines, including murder, cot death and a baby swap story.

Recently, Ronnie has been the victim of stalker Andy Flynn (Jack Derges), who blamed the Mitchell for the death of his adopted sister, and Ronnie's daughter, Danielle.

A soap insider told The Sun: “It was felt that with everything Ronnie has been through over the past nine years it is now time to rest the character.

"The writers are working on an extremely exciting story for Ronnie, and when Sean presented the idea to Sam she jumped at the opportunity to do it.

“Sam already has a few projects lined up so she won’t be off screen for long!”

The actress took to Twitter to confirm she will be leaving EastEnders and thank her fans.

EastEnders, BBC1

EastEnders star Samantha Womack was left scared in her own home after finding a stalker outside the property, a court has heard.

Peter Rombough, 22, from Ditchingham, Norfolk, pleaded guilty to travelling 93 miles to stalk the actress, who plays Ronnie Mitchell in the soap, at her Bedfordshire home.

He appeared before Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on Monday and was given an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

Samantha Womack plays Ronnie Mitchell in the soap (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

In a statement read to the court, mother-of-two Womack said she now felt nervous when she was in the house on her own and feared for the safety of her children.

After finding Rombough outside in September last year, the police and BBC organised extra security to protect the actress, the court heard.

She added: “These events have had a massive impact. I can’t stop thinking about it. He’s a total stranger, but I’m concerned about his well-being and do hope he is okay and needs to seek some help.”

She added she had been reluctant to contact the police as she feared Rombough may harm himself, but felt it was necessary to protect her family and prevent anybody else being stalked.

Womack and her EastEnders co-stars Rita Simons and Jacqueline Jossa (Ian West/PA)

Prosecutor Josephine Jones said Rombough first went looking for the property in May, but could not find the house. He went to the property again on September 3.

“The defendant’s fixation would appear to have got the better of him when he delivered a letter,” she added.

On September 10, Womack saw a light outside her house in the early hours and her husband, Mark, went to investigate. He found Rombough sitting on a wall and asked him to leave, but CCTV cameras showed he remained in the vicinity.

In the rambling letter, Rombough said he feared he 'couldn’t deal with the consequences' of rejection by Womack.

He added: “I do harbour some sort of love for you – I can’t live with that regret and the fact any other woman is second best to you. I could go to a really dark place where you are concerned.”

He went on to say he did not mean any harm adding that Womack was 'one of the last people on the planet I want to hurt'.

Womack with her co-star Scott Maslen (Ian West/PA)

Rombough later posted an apology on Twitter, saying: “I never meant to cause upset. I am very sorry… I never wanted it to go this far. I am so sorry, have a nice life, you won’t see me again.”

The court heard he admitted his fantasies about Womack had started when he was 16. He told police he had an unhealthy crush on her.

Nicola Burt, mitigating, said he should be sentenced on the circumstances of the offence and not the fame of his victim.

“He accepts his actions were wrong and how they impacted the victim,” she added.

Presiding magistrate Robin Hornby also made Rombough subject to a two-year restraining order and a mental health programme.

He said: “We must disregard that this was a high-profile victim. Stalking is stalking and it does not matter who it is: It is not a nice thing.”

Ronnie Mitchell [Sam Womack] is will be arrested for the murder of Carl White, after a betrayal by her sister Roxy [Rita Simons].

The dramatic arrest will take place during what's supposed to be a nice family lunch, organised by Sharon [Letitia Dean] as she tries to keep her family together.

Ronnie killed Carl (Daniel Coonan) in 2014, to protect Roxy and herself… Carl had been giving former addict Roxy drugs and Ronnie was furious. She told Carl to get out of Walford but, instead, he tried to rape her. A swift car boot door to his head and then a car crusher made sure he would never bother the Mitchell sisters again.

Betrayed by Roxy, Ronnie is arrested for the murder of Carl White (BBC)

As our pictures reveal, Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) doesn't look at all upset as Ronnie is taken away, but Roxy is devastated - and admits it was her who dropped Ronnie right in it with the police..

All Ronnie has been trying to do, in her own twisted way, is try to protecy Roxy from Dean, before he hurts her the way he hurt Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

But it looks like she might be too late… Dean has manipulated Roxy to the point where she's convinced he's the best thing that's ever happened to her.

Will she realise too late that the rapist is, in fact, her worst nightmare?

Too late, Roxy realises she has made a terrible mistake. Dean doesn't think she has (BBC)

“As far Dean goes, there is justice,” says Dominic Treadwell-Collins. “And how it’s meted out will be satisfying but shocking too.”

We know he ends up being dragged out of a lake and looking very dead on New Year's Day, the day of Mick (Danny Dyer) and Linda's wedding.

But what about Ronnie? Does she have anything to do with putting Dean in the lake? Or does she spend Christmas at Her Majesty's pleasure?

This EastEnders drama unfolds in the episode due to airs on BBC1, Monday, November 23, 8.00pm.

EastEnders’ spectacular car crash in the January 1 episode, which may still kill Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) or Emma Summerhayes (Anna Acton), drew an audience of 8.53 million for BBC1 on New Year’s Day.

It was a good night for the BBC, with the comedy Mrs Brown’s Boys being watched by nearly eight million, while the final episode of the sitcom Miranda attracted 7.27 million viewers. BBC’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot, starring Dame Judi Dench and Dustin Hoffman, drew 6.47 million viewers.

Emmerdale was ITV’s biggest scorer with viewers, attracting 5.76 million but it was bad news for Birds of a Feather, which scored its lowest audience since it returned in 2014, with 3.68 million watching. 

EastEnders fans all over Britain held their breath while Ronnie (Samantha Womack) lay lifeless in hospital on New Year’s Day after her baby boy’s birth… Then her heart started beating again… Phew!

In the following episode, it’s Nancy (Maddy Hill) who’s holding her breath, as she allows Shirley (Linda Henry) to settle back in at the Queen Vic - against her dad Mick’s wishes.

Tina (Luisa Bradshaw-White) tells Nancy: “What Mick [Danny Dyer] don’t know won’t hurt him”, clearly not realising that now is not the time to be keeping more secrets from Mick, who has just found out that Dean (Matt Di Angelo) raped Linda (Kellie Bright) and that Shirley is his mother, not his sister, making Dean his brother, with Buster (Karl Howman) as their father. Which all means that Stan (Timothy West) and Sylvie (Linda Marlowe) are his grandparents, not his mum and dad.

Will Nancy realise that now is the time to be making her dad happy, not mad?

EastEnders, BBC1, Friday, January 2, 8.00pm.

The fireworks are still going off in Albert Square on New Year’s Day as Emma Summerhayes (Anna Acton) talks to Lucy’s killer.

“Some secrets are horrible…” says Stan (Timothy West), in this chilling preview of EastEnders’ New Year’s Day episode.

But the secret gripping certain residents of Albert Square has nothing to do with the Carters this time… It’s all about Lucy’s murder.

New Year’s Eve showed us that former police officer Emma is still playing detective and has worked out who killed Lucy.

Tonight’s episode shows that Max’s (Jake Wood) New Year starts with a furious fight - with Emma, who’s fighting him off and shouting at him to leave her alone. 

Does she think HE killed Lucy?

Emma sends a text to someone that reads: “I can’t keep the secret”.

Is that going to put Emma in danger?

Ronnie (Samantha Womack) certainly is in trouble. Nasty Nick (John Altman) didn’t take her money and run like she told him to. He seems determined to make an appearance at her wedding.

But there’s a car running out of control in the Square… Will it make Nick really dead? And who’s behind the wheel?

It’s all in the New Year’s Day hour-long EastEnders, BBC1, 8.30pm.

http://youtube.com/v/woa5zGm2hUE

Costume drama heart-throb Colin Firth swaps his image as a dashing love interest to become gentleman spy Harry Hart, with an impressive line in trick pens and spectacles, in the action-packed killer-thriller Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Colin stars alongside US actor Samuel L Jackson, who plays a blood-hating villain in the new movie, and Taron Egerton, from Sky One drama The Smoke. Taron plays Harry’s troubled nephew, Gary, and becomes his protege in the world of espionage.

Michael Caine, Star Wars’ Mark Hamill, EastEnders’ star Samantha Womack, Mark Strong and Jack Davenport also feature in the movie, directed by Matthew Vaughn (X-Men: First Class).

Mark Millar, the Scottish creator of the comic book on which the film is based, called it “a love letter to the spy movies we miss”.

Kingsman: The Secret Service, is due for cinemal release in the UK on October 17.

http://youtube.com/v/m4NCribDx4U

In a new trailer released by EastEnders it looks like Ronnie (Samantha Womack) has gone to the dark side again.

The video, to promote the Monday, June 23 episode, opens on a light note, with Ronnie’s dancing around the kitchen to the song Walking on Sunshine.

But we hear Roxy (Rita Simons) telling Aleks (Kristian Kiehling) that “she’s always been a few sandwiches short of a picnic", and it’s clear that all is not as happy as it seems.

Then Phil’s at the front door, asking, “Is Ronnie here?”.

“She’s upstairs. Has something happened, Phil?” Roxy asks, sounding concerned.

And something must have happened - or be about to happen - as it’s clear that Phil (Steve McFadden) is not there for a social visit. He says nothing as he heads upstairs.

In Ronnie’s bedroom, Ronnie and Phil are sitting on her bed and Ronnie says to Phil, “You’ve got to have back-up".

“What do you mean?” asks Phil.

Yes, what do you mean, Ronnie?

Ronnie reaches into her bedside table and pulls out a gun.

“I don’t think I know who you are any more,” Phil tells her.

“I’m a Mitchell, Phil.” says Ronnie, with the gun in her hands. “I’m a Mitchell.”

What is Ronnie’s secret? asks the trailer.

Has she used that gun already? Or is she planning to use it?

Click here to see video.

EastEnders hour-long special, BBC1, Monday, June 23, 8.00pm

Even before her baby died but especially since she came out of prison, Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) has been messed up. Now her cousin Phil (Steve McFadden) is going to discover just how messed up she really is, reports the Mirror.

Phil has already shown signs of concern for Ronnie after she killed Carl White, got rid of his body, had his brother beaten to a pulp and then warned off his family.

So you can only imagine the look on Phil’s face when Ronnie brandishes a firearm.

To say that Phil is worried is an understatement.

Why does Ronnie have a gun? And is she planning to actually use it?

All will be revealed in EastEnders, on BBC1, Monday, June 23.

EastEnders star Samantha Womack has revealed she expected viewers to hate Ronnie Mitchell.

"With child abduction and murder on her record, she should be public enemy number one!" said Samantha, referring to Ronnie's prison time for taking Kat Moon's baby and her murder of Carl White.

"It's a weird thing - people forgive Ronnie for a lot more than they would other characters.

"Everyone has seen her trauma - with her daughter Danielle, and baby James and her dad Archie - so they're all kind of rooting for her. The audience tries to understand why she does what she does, and they're with her every step of the way. They always see her as a victim."

The actress is not sure if Ronnie can get away with murdering Carl.

"She's taken another human life so it's only a matter of time before that ticking time-bomb will go off!"

EastEnders' Samantha Womack has admitted that her character Ronnie Mitchell is not in a good place right now, describing her as a 'complete psychopath'.

Speaking to the Mirror the actress - whose return to Albert Square has been an explosive one - revealed there was yet more drama to come in the aftermath of Carl White's murder.

"Ronnie's a ticking timebomb," she said. "By rights she should be bound and gagged in a corner, quietly rocking and humming to herself. Ronnie is more dysfunctional than ever."

And the actress pointed out that while Ronnie appeared to be 'coping very well' with recent events, it wouldn't last for ever.

"Ronnie is clearly very damaged, but what has changed now is that she is covering it up much more," Samantha said.

"She’s trying to convince herself that she’s on top of things – but at some point Ronnie’s going to come unstuck. After all, she’s not Hannibal Lecter!

Samantha added that her character's change in personality had made returning to EastEnders a big challenge.

"She used to have such heart before, and she's changed in such an unpalatable way, so it's been a real departure," she explained.

"So it has been challenging to play, but also rewarding."

Samantha Womack reveals to Soaplife that Ronnie’s baby-snatch nightmare comes back to haunt her when she finds herself looking after little Lexi in EastEnders…

How does Ronnie come to be taking care of Lexi?

“Lexi’s taken ill when she’s at the child minder’s. They can’t reach Lola or Billy and it’s Ronnie who takes the call and ends up looking after Lexi.”

But Lola’s scared when she finds out Ronnie has her baby…

“As Lola and Billy arrive home they hear Ronnie talking to Lexi and they can tell Ronnie’s frightened. Lola realises Ronnie means Lexi no harm and is really reassuring, telling her it’s fine, she’s family after all.”

Jack seems to have forgiven her, too and they’ve spent the night together…

“Ronnie still loves him. They’ve got so much history, but I don’t think she really wants to open up that side of herself. For her to survive, she needs to switch off that part of herself.”

Does that mean she’s going to dump him?

“Wait and see! But I think it’s too soon for her to be linked with anyone romantically.”

She's struggling to reconnect with Roxy, too…

“That’s down to Alfie; he doesn’t want Roxy near Ronnie. Even though Roxy is doing the worst possible thing in rejecting her, Ronnie forgives her.”

And Roxy does start to see Ronnie behind Alfie’s back…

“It’s all about the Mitchell clan for Ronnie. She’s rallying the troops, getting all the Mitchells back together. We know the pain Ronnie has been through, now it’s more interesting to see somebody pull themselves together.”

What can you tell us about Jack’s leaving storyline?

“I was sobbing uncontrollably during his leaving scenes. I’m very close to Scott [Maslen, who plays Jack], he’s like a brother. There was a send-off here, but privately we’ll do something like dinner - which I’m sure I’ll end up cooking!”

Samantha Womack and Nigel Harman are set to put the cat among the pigeons in the new series of Mount Pleasant (starting Wednesday 11 September) as outrageous new residents Bradley and Tanya. TV&Satellite Week caught up with Womack, who also returns as EastEnders' Ronnie Branning this week, to tell us more…

How would you describe Tanya and Bradley?

"They are dysfunctional with an undercurrent of darkness. She is lonely and feels lost and finds Dan a captive audience. I've never played a character as insane as Tanya and it's lovely playing a vivacious, active, physical character because Ronnie in EastEnders is very still and damaged. I worried that people would think I couldn't act because I never move as Ronnie"

What is her relationship like with her daughter?

"Ella has had to be the parent really and is the most mature of the three of them. The mother-daughter relationship is odd because Tanya sees them as friends so she is slightly inappropriate in terms of making Ella feel secure."

What was it like working with Nigel?

"I don’t know if it is our theatrical backgrounds but there was an ease straight away. I kept getting him to sing with me and said that we should do a musical together. We will have to workshop an idea, maybe EastEnders: The Musical"

What was the appeal of Mount Pleasant for you?

"It has such an old-fashioned warmth to it and just the most eclectic cast. We sit around at readthroughs and see this strange group of people brought together from all walks of the acting arena but everyone is so talented. Bobby Ball in particular is such a good actor; he is really natural."

Was it nice for you to do more comedy again?

"Yes it was interesting to go back and see how comedy has changed. When I did Game On, it was in front of a studio audience and the gags were all in place but there's a realism to comedy now, which I've really enjoyed."

Was there a north/south divide in the cast? 

"Well aside from James Dreyfus, Nigel and I are the only southerners and it is interesting how the banter and the rhythm and the style of acting is very different. There is a real ease with the delivery anyway on the show and you can sense there are two things going on, the obvious gags with the realistic element bubbling underneath."

And what has it been like returning to Albert Square?

"It was nice to go back into that cloud of controversy, I've wafted back in easily with my green smoke and cloak! I can't say much other than she is released from prison but it felt familiar coming back, I did a scene with one actor and I suddenly remembered everything that we'd done before, so the scenes feel really full because there is so much behind the dialogue."

How do you feel about being in two shows at once?

"It's double bubble, which is brilliant for me but for people that don't like me, don't watch telly this September. The two roles are so extremely different, that as an actor it is a dream because you are constantly trying to re-educate the industry and the public about who you are and what you do."

Mount Pleasant returns on Wednesday September 11 at 9pm on Sky Living.

Former EastEnders bad boy Nigel Harman is up to his old tricks again when he joins the cast of Sky1 comedy drama Mount Pleasant this week...

Nigel plays Bradley, a wheeler dealer who leaves London in a hurry and rocks up in the close with his wife Tanya (fellow EastEnder Samantha Womack - above) and their young daughter Ella...

Tell us a little bit about Bradley..

"He's arrived in Manchester under slightly mysterious circumstances. Bradley's line of work is a little suspect and he got a little bit close to the fire, so we decided we needed to move. I think we're trying to keep a low profile but it's not working out! We throw a party immediately and everyone gets absolutely smashed." 

What are Bradley and Tanya like as a couple?

"They're very passionate and physical with each other! One minute they're at each other's throats and the next things are brilliant. They're trying to be good parents but they're not going to make any handbooks. Arguably the smartest person in the family is daughter Ella!"

Is Bradley as naughty as your EastEnders character Dennis Rickman?

"He has been in prison, but he's more of an opportunist than a career criminal. If you want something he can get it for you, but there's a little bit of a shadow around him. Things get a bit darker as we go on!"

What was it like joining a cast of Northerners?

"I thought I was doing a Northern accent and then I realised I wasn't - which was a relief!"

You and Samantha never worked on EastEnders at the same time, did you know each other at all beforehand?

"We didn't actually. We met once at the Piccadilly theatre because we both did Guys and Dolls - although once again, not at the same time! We have lots of mutual friends, which is always the way when you get as old as we do! But this is the first time we've worked together."

What made you decide to join the show?

"I'm an out of the closet David Bradley fan so I'd watched some of the show and I liked it. He was the person that made me say yes. I asked him what it was like and he said; 'It's great fun - you've got to do it Nige!'"

...and you'll be appearing in the new series of Downton Abbey!

"Yes, I'm playing a valet - that's a valet with a 'T', to say it the other way is American apparently. I play a valet to Lord Gillingham, a friend of the Crawley family, who's played by Tom Cullen. He's incredible. He's a bit of a dark warrior. He's very charming and then he's not. He has no redeeming features at all.."

You do seem to play a lot of villains!

"I know! I must have a villainous face!"

We hear George Sampson has been showing you some moves?

"Not exactly! I'm not sure I could pull any of his stunts off. I remember once upon a time I used to be the young buck on set. Those days are well and truly gone! I came on set the other day and George was doing back somersaults all over the place - he's extraordinary."

Mount Pleasant returns on Wednesday September 11 at 9pm on Sky1.

Samantha Womack tells Soaplife that EastEnders' Ronnie Mitchell has done her time and is done with saying sorry… That sounds like fighting talk!

Ronnie’s back in Walford and they’re not exactly hanging out the bunting. She returns to Albert Square after two years in jail for stealing Kat’s son Tommy and has no idea her sister Roxy is engaged to Alfie. “Ronnie feels like she’s not in the Square that she left. It’s changed,” Samantha tells Soaplife. “But she won’t take a lot of grief because she feels like she’s done her time.” Do Kat, Alfie and Jack feel the same, though?

Is Ronnie expecting Roxy to meet her at the prison gates?

“She is, but Kat is there instead. It’s a complete surprise to see her and quite terrifying. Ronnie and Kat talk about their feelings and their experiences. Kat’s a lot more understanding about it now than she was when it happened.”

It must be a shock when Kat tells her Roxy and Alfie are engaged?

“It’s a little awkward. It’s understandable that Alfie feels very threatened and protective towards Tommy, but what’s lovely about it is that Ronnie doesn’t feel at all betrayed by Roxy. She says she understands and she wants Roxy to be happy.”

How does Ronnie feel when she sees Jack again?

“He refuses to talk to her and slams the door in her face the first time she goes to see him, which is upsetting. I think Ronnie still loves Jack, but she has to remove herself from love now in order to survive. She’s going to become a matriarch, someone who is fighting for the survival of her family.”

Scott [Maslen who plays Jack] is leaving soon… Will you be sad to see him go?

“Yes. Part of my reason for coming back was to be involved in his leaving storyline. I feel a huge loyalty to the character and to Scott. Our characters were very successful together. There are lots of tribute videos to Ronnie and Jack on the internet that I secretly watch.”

How long are you back for?

“Six months at the moment, mainly because I don’t know if the character is going to succeed. I’ll regroup in six months and talk about whether or not it has worked. I’m glad to be back. I felt Ronnie was unfinished business…”

Samantha Womack has spoken out about her return to EastEnders later this year, saying she cannot wait to get back to Albert Square.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror the actress - who revealed last week she was returning to the role of Ronnie Mitchell - said she felt as if she had never been away from the show.

And in spite of some of the harrowing scenes she had to play during her time in EastEnders, she admitted she was looking forward to getting back to the drama.

"When I left I went to do musical theatre, possibly the furthest thing you can get from the gritty drama of EastEnders," Samantha said.

"But still people would recognise me as Ronnie in the street all the time. You forget that for avid fans EastEnders becomes a part of their life. It’s almost as if it’s real for them. You’re in their world."

Samantha quit the soap after being at the centre of one of its most controversial storylines, as Ronnie kidnapped Kat and Alfie's son Tommy after losing her own newborn son James to cot death.

The plotline prompted over 13,000 complaints from viewers to the BBC and media regulator Ofcom, which later ruled the show had not breached any rules in showing the dramatic scenes.

However Samantha admitted that she needed a break afterwards, calling the story 'intense and 'emotionally draining'.

"It was the right time to leave. Imagine going to work every day and screaming and crying and going through that whole range of emotions," she confessed.

"I was really spoilt with the storyline and I wouldn’t change it, but I really lived it. Even though I was acting it really hit me hard and I knew I needed to get out for a while.”

The actress will return to the set this summer, with Ronnie - whose character was sent to prison following the kidnapping - set to reappear soon after.