Roxy Mitchell made her shock return from the dead in EastEnders, but not all was as it seemed.
The character played by Rita Simons was killed off by the BBC soap six years ago alongside her sister Ronnie in a tragic drowning accident on New Year’s Day 2017.
Thursday’s episode saw Simons reprise her role as a figment of daughter Amy’s imagination.
The teenager has never fully come to terms with her mother’s death and is currently suffering a mental health crisis, including self-harming.
In addition to difficulties at school, her state of mind has been exacerbated by the discovery that her step-mum Denise has been having an affair behind her dad Jack’s back.
When the family attend a group therapy session together, Amy is asked what she would say to her mum Roxy if she were in the room, with Amy asking: “Did you ever really love me?”
Roxy then appeared on BBC viewers’ screens and said: “Yes, my baby. [I love you] with all my heart.”
Amy started off angry, holding her mother’s necklace and telling her: “You should have been stronger, you didn’t need to drink or take drugs, wasn’t I enough for you?”
Roxy reassured Amy by saying: “You were the one good thing I had, I was fighting for you.”
She added: “I’m not a bad person, I promise you.”
Amy admitted she couldn’t quite remember her mum, who died when she was young, so Roxy reminded her of a time they wrote a poem about Henry VIII for her homework.
She said: “The memories are in there, they’re all in there. You’ve just got to find them, baby.
“You do not need to hurt yourself, not because of me. I’m part of you, we’re the same. It’s going to be hard and you’re going to have to fight for what you want in life, but don’t you ever give up.”
Fans were loving seeing Roxy back on screen and took to social media to call for the character to make a full-time return.
“Seeing the incredible reactions after tonight’s episode, it would be ridiculous for EastEnders not to consider a Roxy return,” wrote one person on Twitter.
“Wow! I could hardly see this scene through ... An absolutely amazing performance by Rita Simons – good to see you back – and Ellie Dadd. I’ve said it before, Ellie deserves an award for the way she’s portraying this storyline. Well done EastEnders, I hope Roxy returns,” agreed another.
