Former EastEnders and current Hollyoaks star Rita Simons has announced her engagement to Ben Harlow.

Simons played Roxy Mitchell on the BBC soap for a decade before

the character was killed-off in 2017, with the actor currently starring

as Marie Fielding on the Channel 4 show after making her debut in 2024.

The star now has some personal news to celebrate, with the actor confirming via Instagram that she was engaged to Harlow after five years of dating, writing: “….so this happened! @benjyharlow,” as the happy couple were pictured with an engagement ring.

The post was met with a warm response in the comment section, with Ellie Dadd – who plays Amy Mitchell, Roxy’s daughter, on EastEnders – sending three celebratory emojis. Samantha Womack, who played Simons’s on-screen sister Ronnie, wrote: “Wooooooooooop!!!!!”

“Love u so much! Congrats to the both of u! Jadore !!” added Duncan James, who played Ryan Knight on Hollyoaks, whilst Tyler Conti – who currently plays Simons’s on-screen son, Abe – commented: “My new dad.”

“Awww the loveliest couple congratulations guys xxx” added Nadine Mulkerrin, who plays Cleo McQueen on the Channel 4 soap, whilst Jennifer Metcalfe – who plays Mercedes McQueen – wrote: “Congratulations my love!”

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Former EastEnders co-star Diane Parish – who plays Denise Fox – wrote: “OHHHHH!!! That is too Fanthee for words! I’m thrilled for you both. Xxxx” whilst Hollyoaks co-star Tamara Wall – who plays Grace Black – referenced James as she wrote: “Wooooohoooooo!!!! Love this @mrduncanjames needs to come up so we can celebrate with wine!”

Simons, who appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2018, previously spoke about how she came to meet Harlow, recalling: “I met Ben during Legally Blonde [in 2017]. We were mates and then a couple of years later he asked me out on a date. And we’ve been together ever since.”