EastEnders legend Samantha Womack has landed her first major TV role since leaving the soap.
The actress, who played Ronnie Mitchell for a decade, will star in long-running BBC crime drama Silent Witness.
She starred as the feisty Walford businesswoman and mum until being controversially killed off on her wedding day to Jack Branning as he read a bedtime story to her children.
Read more: Former EastEnders star Samantha Womack ‘hates’ that she can never return as Ronnie Mitchell
Ronnie and sister Roxy drowned in a hotel swimming pool on New Year’s Day, 2017, a move which Samantha later criticised as a “short-sighted” decision.
Samantha said earlier this year: “There was a period of mourning. Rita Simons was my pretend sister for nine years.
“The Mitchell family are such a huge part of that show’s culture – Peggy (played by Barbara Windsor) had gone and then the two Mitchell sisters.
“It’s a shame to rip out the roots of such a long-serving family. It’s short-sighted.”
Her new role in Silent Witness will see the actress playing Detective Inspector Ashton, a love interest for Jack Hodgson.
A source told the Sunday Mirror: “Sam is set to get Jack’s heart pulsing as new character Detective Inspector Ashton in the new series. She’ll be a great addition to the show.”
Read more: Rita Simons BLASTS EastEnders for blaming Roxy for Ronnie’s death
The 45-year-old was spotted, with red dyed hair, filming scenes in London this week, alongside star Emilia Fox who plays Dr Nikki Alexander.
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Silent Witness celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and also stars David Caves, Liz Carr and Richard Lintern.
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