Who is Celebrity MasterChef 2021 contestant Rita Simons?
RITA Simons is known by soap fans for playing feisty Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders.
The actress turned reality star is also known for taking part in I'm A Celebrity in 2018 and Celebrity MasterChef 2021.
Who is Rita Simons?
Rita Simons, 44, is the niece of the billionaire and Apprentice star Lord Sugar.
Lord Sugar's wife, Ann Simons, who he married in 1968 is the sister of Rita's dad Mark.
Rita started her career in 2000 in a band called Girls@Play which had a couple of hits.
She later joined the band Charli which included Shar from the Paradiso Girls and they released the single Feel Me.
When was Rita Simons on I'm A Celebrity?
Rita took part in the 2018 series of I'm A Celebrity.
Her highlights included taking part in a terrifying Bushtucker Trial called Stars Of The Silver Scream with The Vamps star James McVey.
For this she had to stand in a giant box of popcorn while being quizzed on her film knowledge and showered in creepy crawlies.
She performed well in the trial but had to endure a cockroach crawling up her bum.
Before she was voted out she had a medical emergency after her blood sugar got too low and she became hypoglycemic.
In her exit interview she pledged her support for Harry Redknapp to win the series.
When was Rita Simons in EastEnders?
Rita Simons starred in EastEnders as Roxy Mitchell from 2007-2017.
On New Year's Day 2017 she left the soap along with Samantha Womack, who played her sister Ronnie Mitchell.
Their dramatic exit storyline saw the sisters drown in a swimming pool.
Other series that Rita has starred in include the Sky One dramas Mile High and Dream Team as well as the ITV drama London's Burning.
Rita has also starred on stage in Legally Blonde The Musical as Paulette Bonafonte.
MORE ON RITA SIMONS
Is Rita Simons married?
Rita married hairdresser Theo Silveston in 2006.
They met through a mutual friend when she was 19.
The couple have twin daughters - Maiya and Jaimee.
Maiya was diagnosed deaf at four-years-old but had a cochlear implant in 2014 to improve her hearing.