EastEnders icon Rita Simons is engaged to fiancé Ben Harlow and shared snaps on social media

EastEnders star Rita Simons announced she’s officially engaged to Ben Harlow.

The 47-year-old actress took to social media to share happy snaps of the new engagement, with the caption: “….so this happened!” In the pictures, the dazzling ring could be seen placed on her finger as the two posed for snaps in the comfort of their own home.

Fans and friends rushed to the comment section to congratulate the happy couple, with Hollyoaks star Steph Waring writing: “Congratulations to you both!” One fan commented: “Awwww AMAZING!!! Hugest congratulations both.” Another fan added: “Yes to this!!! Congrats to you both.”

Duncan James wrote: “Love u so much! Congrats to the both of u! Jadore !!” Rita, best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in the soap, has been in a relationship with former actor Ben Harlow since 2020, after the pair met while performing in Legally Blonde the Musical in 2017.

Rita is officially engaged!

The couple started dating in 2020

Of her romance, Rita previously said Ben is “the loveliest man on the planet” and that it’s only because she’s “so happy” now she can see what a “mess” she was. Before being in a relationship with Ben, she was married to Theo Silverston.

However, she faced a huge hurdle when she split from him after 14 years together. The actress had been “growing apart” from the hairdresser and they decided to end their relationship after a period of separation. Unfortunately, the duo’s split caused Rita to struggle with depression, insomnia and more.

In the end, the cocktail of stress, pressure and heartbreak caused her to suffer a nervous breakdown. It’s no surprise Rita described that period as “one of the worst times” of her life. In an interview with OK! Magazine, Rita explained: “I was physically ill every other week and I lost loads of weight.

“Every night I would go on stage in the West End in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie having just had some fraught conversation with Theo, and later on having just received legal letters. And I would just cry, go on stage, come off, cry and respond. I also had terrible insomnia for about a year. When I’m unhappy, my sleep is the first thing to go and then the knock-on is the depression and anxiety.”

In 2019, while starring in the play The House On Cold Hill, the star had a nervous breakdown. “My mind went to some major dark places,” admitted Rita. Speaking to The Sun she said: “There were some stairs on the set that I came on stage on, quite high at the top. And I thought I could just chuck myself down. I didn’t want to die. I just wanted to hurt myself enough to go to hospital and have someone look after me. That was scary.”