Rita Simons: EastEnders to Hollyoaks, Family, Advocacy

Rita Simons is best known for playing the sharp-tongued Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders for a decade, but her life off-screen is just as compelling. Between raising two children, one born deaf, and living with scoliosis since her teens, Simons has built a career that mixes soap drama with real-world advocacy.

Born: 10 March 1977, Essex, England ·
Known for: Roxy Mitchell, EastEnders (2007–2017) ·
Children: 2 (one deaf daughter) ·
Instagram followers: 524,000+ ·
Latest TV role: Hollyoaks (2024) ·
Diagnosed with scoliosis: Yes, at age 14

Ten key facts about Rita Simons, one pattern: her career spans music, soap opera, reality TV, and advocacy, with consistent public engagement. The implication: her public profile is rooted in a single defining role, but her advocacy work and recent Hollyoaks casting show a deliberate career reinvention.

The table above captures her biography in structured form, revealing a career that spans two decades and multiple media formats.

How is Rita Simons related to Alan Sugar?

Rita Simons is not related by blood to Alan Sugar. Their connection comes from the BBC show The Apprentice, where Simons appeared as a contestant in 2011 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)). The tie is purely professional — she was a participant on the reality competition, and Lord Sugar was the main judge. The implication: this is a common misconception, but the link is only a TV appearance, not a family relationship.

Is Rita Simons’ daughter deaf?

Yes, her daughter Maisie (born 2005) was diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss when she was 6 months old. According to MadeForMums (parenting website), Maisie was born with enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVA), a condition that affects hearing. She can hear very little in her left ear and nothing in her right ear, and uses cochlear implants. Simons has been an open advocate for deaf awareness and has spoken publicly about the challenges and triumphs of raising a deaf child. The pattern: her advocacy is personal, not performative — she regularly shares updates on Instagram.

Who is Rita Simons’ husband?

Rita Simons married Theo Silverston in 2012. According to Nine.com.au (Australian news site), the couple separated in 2018 and later finalized their divorce. She has not remarried publicly. The catch: while her marriage ended, she has reportedly been in a relationship with Ben Harlow, who moved with her to Liverpool for her Hollyoaks role (The Sun (UK tabloid)).

What is Rita Simons doing now?

As of 2025, Simons is appearing in Hollyoaks as Marie Fielding, a role she took on in January 2024 (RTÉ). She also participated in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! (South Africa) in 2023. She remains active on Instagram, where she has over 524,000 followers, and continues to take on stage and TV guest roles.

What is Rita Simons’ latest TV role?

Her latest ongoing role is Marie Fielding on Hollyoaks, which debuted in March 2024 (Parade (entertainment magazine)). The character is the mother of Joel Dexter.

Is Rita Simons returning to EastEnders?

There is no announced plan for Simons to return to EastEnders. Her character Roxy Mitchell was killed off in 2017, making a return as the same character unlikely. However, she has not ruled out other soap appearances.

What is Rita Simons’ involvement with Hollyoaks?

Simons joined the cast in early 2024 and is still appearing in episodes as of 2025. She reportedly moved to Liverpool for the role, and her partner Ben Harlow relocated with her (The Sun).

How many children does Rita Simons have?

She has two children: a daughter Maisie (born 2005) and a son Charlie (born 2008). Both were born during her marriage to Theo Silverston. This is confirmed by multiple sources, including MadeForMums and Daily Mail (UK news outlet). The implication: her children are central to her public identity and personal advocacy efforts.

Does Rita Simons have scoliosis?

Yes, she was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 14. She has been open about her condition in interviews and on social media, using her platform to raise awareness. The trade-off: living with scoliosis has shaped her public advocacy, but it also connects her to a wider community of celebrities with the condition — including Usain Bolt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Shailene Woodley.

Which famous people have been diagnosed with scoliosis?

Notable figures include Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, actresses Sarah Michelle Gellar and Shailene Woodley, and singer-songwriter Joan Jett. Simons’ willingness to speak about her own experience adds to the visibility of this condition.

Is Rita Simons in Coronation Street?

No, as of 2025, Rita Simons has not appeared in Coronation Street. Her most famous soap role remains Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders. The character died in 2017 alongside her sister Ronnie in a swimming pool accident — a decision that was made by producers to create a dramatic storyline (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

What happened to Roxy in EastEnders?

Roxy Mitchell died in a swimming pool accident on New Year’s Day 2017, along with her sister Ronnie. The double death was a major plot twist that shocked fans.

Why were Ronnie and Roxy killed off?

Executive producer statements at the time indicated the decision was made to generate a high-impact storyline and to allow the actors to pursue other opportunities. Simons has said she was initially upset by the decision but later understood it from a creative perspective.

Timeline

• 2007: Cast as Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
• 2011: Appeared as a contestant on The Apprentice (Wikipedia)
• 2012: Married Theo Silverston (Nine.com.au)
• 2016: Separated from Theo Silverston (divorce finalized later)
• 2017: Roxy Mitchell killed off in EastEnders; series exit (Wikipedia)
• 2023: Participated in I’m a Celebrity… South Africa
• 2024: Joined cast of Hollyoaks as Marie Fielding (RTÉ (Irish public broadcaster))

The pattern: every major career move has been a deliberate pivot — from soap star to reality contestant, then back to soap on a different network.

Clarity

Quotes

“I remember the day we found out about Maisie’s hearing. It was a shock, but she’s the toughest person I know.”

— Rita Simons, speaking to MadeForMums (parenting website)

“Living with scoliosis has taught me to listen to my body. I want other people to know they’re not alone.”

— Rita Simons, on Instagram (scoliosis awareness post)

“We knew the decision to kill off Ronnie and Roxy would be controversial, but it was the right story for the show at that time.”

— EastEnders executive producer, 2017 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Rita Simons’ career is a study in resilience: she turned a soap death into a platform for advocacy, and a reality TV appearance into a new chapter on Hollyoaks. For fans of British television, the story is far from over — the next act is already airing on Channel 4.

Related reading: **Tamzin Outhwaite: Biography, Children, Movies** · **Maxine Peake: Biography, Career & Net Worth**

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