EastEnders’ Rita Simons secretly splits from husband after 14 years
The former EastEnders star’s representative confirmed the actress is set to divorce her hairdresser husband Theo Silverston after they’ve been secretly living apart
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Former EastEnders star Rita Simons is splitting from her husband of 14 years after they’ve secretly been living apart.
Rita, who played Roxy Mitchell, is set to divorce hairdresser Theo Silverston.
The sad split was confirmed by Rita’s representatives, the Daily Star reports.
It’s said that the 43-year-old actress had been “growing apart” from her husband as they decided to call time on their relationship.
And it’s reported that the former couple, who share twin daughters, have been secretly living apart since as far back as 2018.
Her agent told the newspaper: “Rita and Theo have been separated for almost two years and Theo moved out of the family home some time ago.
“They are currently finalising their divorce, and amicably co-parenting their two daughters.”
Former I’m A Celebrity star Rita is said to be looking forward to the future, with pals telling the publication: “The split has been a big change for Rita, but she knows it’s the right decision.”
The insider added that the exes are on “good terms”.
Rita’s character Roxy and her sister Ronnie, who was portrayed by Sam Womack, were huge fan favourites on the BBC soap.
She starred in Albert Square for a decade before bosses decided to kill the siblings off in dramatic scenes in 2017.
She made a short cameo in 2019, when her ex Sean Slater, played by Rob Kazinsky, returned to the show and played an old voicemail she’d left him while they were married.
Rita has since branched out into a stage career, appearing in a number of shows, including playing Miss Hedge in hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
Rita has said before that she was gutted to be killed off in EastEnders.
She told Good Morning Britain: “Obviously it’s no secret we were gutted to leave, because we loved our characters.
“I love Sam, she’s my best friend, you become a pretend family.
“We did want to leave but we didn’t want to die. And to watch your ‘sister’ die, and to willingly kill your own character you’ve played for 10 years and you love, is a weird dilemma to be in, because you have to do the filming.”
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