Strictly Come Dancing star Molly Rainford shares details of her new EastEnders role
Molly will be joining the show!
Last updated 26th May 2023
Strictly Come Dancing star Molly Rainford has shared details of her new role on EastEnders. The 22-year-old will be part of a new family who will be moving into The Queen Vic this summer.
While Linda Carter has been struggling to manage The Queen Vic since Mick's disappearance, she's been secretly working with her mum Elaine, whose new lover George Knight will be moving to Walford for a fresh start.
In scenes due to air next week, viewers will see Elaine surprise Linda by moving in her partner George along with his daughters Anna and Gina.
Molly is set to take on the role of Anna - and she couldn't be more excited to join the BBC soap. Speaking at an EastEnders press event this week, Molly said: "It is nuts. All of us have watched EastEnders for as long as we can remember. Most of us resonate with the East End, most of our families are from there.
"Anna is the light-hearted bubbly character, who wants to get on with everyone. She's excited about her new life in Walford. But actually the great thing is that in the trio of dad and sister, she is the glue that holds them together.
"It is lovely to be part of the family in that way. Sometimes kindness can be mistaken for weakness, but she shows that is not the case. She is the baby - they're always the glue."
When asked if Anna and Gina will be looking for love in Walford, Molly replied: "We've come from Marbella and that world, being behind the bar, so they've grown up quickly.
"They're excited to explore the new eye candy on the Square rather than look for something too serious too soon. The girls are just typical 20-somethings and just excited to be there."
Traditionally, each new EastEnders cast member is assigned a mentor to help them settle in to the show. Luckily for Molly, her mentor is a familiar face - fellow Strictly star James Bye, who plays Martin Fowler.
Molly added: "Mine is the wonderful James Bye. We met previously on Strictly. Every time I see him in the corridor, I don't know if I should be learning scripts or a cha-cha or working on my frame - it's really confusing! It feels like we need a scene like asking: 'Do I know you?!'
"You have to get stuck in. I'm grateful that we have come as a family and we're lucky to be in The Vic. We meet so many other cast so it really gets us pretty welcomed very quickly. They're such a lovely bunch and like a family already, which is great for us."
Speaking of the new arrivals, Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer said: "The arrival of the Knights brings a new dawn to Albert Square. George Knight is a charming rogue and an old-school gent who dotes on his two daughters, Gina and Anna. George will take up residence in The Queen Vic when he joins his beloved Elaine, a powerhouse of a land-lady who knows just how to have fun."
He continued: "George, Gina and Anna have been bound together for years and arriving in Walford is the fresh-start the Knights are looking for. We’re thrilled to welcome this hugely talented group of actors; Colin Salmon, Harriet Thorpe, Francesca Henry and Molly Rainford who will be immediately thrown into the heart of the Square, and we can’t wait for everyone to meet them."
Along with her appearance on Strictly, Molly has also appeared on CBBC as Nova Jones, and Britain's Got Talent. She is currently dating KISS presenter Tyler West, after meeting him on Strictly Come Dancing and growing close during the live tour earlier this year.
EastEnders airs on Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
Check out which stars found love on the Strictly dancefloor:
Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
On the first ever series of Strictly back in 2001, news reader Natasha Kaplinsky and professional dancer Brendan Cole were paired together.
Despite both being in other relationships at the time, both Natasha and Brendan called off their romances and started dating after the series finished.
Their relationship didn't last long though, and they are now both happily married to other people.
Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna
It was love at first sight for former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian and her Strictly partner Brian Fortuna in 2009.
With the pair both single at the time, Ali and Brian started a relationship, only for it to end the following year.
Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
When boxer Joe Calzaghe appeared on the show in 2009, he announced to the press that his relationship with his partner Jo-Emma Larvin had come to an end, just one week into his Strictly journey.
Joe's professional dance partner Kristina Rihanoff was more than a shoulder to cry on, with the pair starting a romance. They went on to date for four years after show, before announcing their split.
Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
After her relationship with Joe Calzaghe fell apart, Kristina later met another Strictly contestant, England rugby ace Ben Cohen.
Both Ben and Kristina have denied rumours that Ben was still with his ex-wife Abby Blayney at the time they started dating, with the pair claiming they didn't get together until a year later.
Things are going well however, the pair now share a daughter together called Milena and are in a happy relationship.
Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev
After her split from Joe Swash, actress Kara Tointon appeared on the 2010 series of Strictly and mended her broken heart with a little help from professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev.
Despite this, things didn't work out for the couple.
Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
When Countdown presenter Rachel Riley appeared on Strictly in 2013 she was married to her ex-husband Jamie Gilbert. However, after just 16 months of marriage, the pair announced they were set for divorce in November 2013.
Fast-forward to 2016 and Rachel revealed she was in a relationship with her 2013 Strictly partner Pasha Kovalev... And the pair welcomed a baby in 2019, with another arriving in 2021.
Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
Georgia May Foote was dating her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward when she joined the show in 2015. But when rumours circulated that the couple's relationship wasn't going well, they split in December 2015.
Georgia was then spotted getting very cosy with her Strictly partner Giovanni, with the pair enjoying a holiday to Disneyland Paris for New Year.
Despite this, the couple ended their relationship in August 2016.
Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg
After weeks of rumours, Joe Sugg appeared to confirm his relationship with Strictly Come Dancing partner Dianne Buswell with a photo on Instagram, the caption read, 'I may not have won the glitter ball, but I've won something a million times more special.'
The pair have been loved-up ever since!
Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Radio presenter Gemma Atkinson and professional dancer Gorka Marquez were first linked in the 2017 series, and got together whilst on the 2018 annual tour together. They moved in together in December 2018 and welcomed their daughter Mia in summer 2019. The couple then announced their engagement at the start of 2021.
In 2023, Gemma and Gorka then welcomed their second child, a baby boy called Thiago!
Giovanni Pernice and Ashley Roberts
Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice and Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts were forced to deny they were dating during the 2018 series, but Giovanni confirmed the relationship in January 2019.
However, just one year later in January 2020, Giovanni confirmed the pair had split.
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Despite taking a long time to confirm their romance, Stacey and Kevin now seem very happy together, with Kevin announcing back in March 2021 that he'd quit the show.
Despite the couple keeping their relationship more or less private, the couple did confirm in August 2022 that they are expecting their first child together, with Stacey giving birth to baby Minnie in January 2023.
Max George and Maisie Smith
Despite both taking part in the 2020 series of Strictly, The Wanted singer Max George and former EastEnders actress Maisie Smith didn't actually start dating until mid-2022.
After weeks of rumours about a romance, the pair went Instagram official in September 2022, sharing gushy posts about each other. They've since been smitten.
Tyler West and Molly Rainford
Strictly 2022 contestants Tyler West and Molly Rainford confirmed they were dating in March 2023, after growing close during the live tour. The pair confirmed they were dating during a TikTok video, leaving fans buzzing, and they've not looked back!
Now read:
Strictly stars Tyler West and Molly Rainford confirm they are dating
Better: The new BBC drama set to have everybody hooked
First look at ITV's new crime drama Six Four