Rita "mortified" over Enders plot

Rita Simons has revealed that she was "mortified" after discovering her EastEnders character would sleep with her sister's boyfriend.

Rita, who plays Roxy Mitchell on the soap, described sleeping with Ronnie Mitchell's (Samantha Janus) boyfriend Jack (Scott Maslen) as an "awful betrayal".

The actress told The Mirror: "I was mortified when I found out that Roxy would end up sleeping with Jack.

"I couldn't believe I was going to have to be so cruel to Ronnie - the betrayal is so awful.

"But even though what Roxy has done is dreadful, it's important the audience feel some sympathy towards her. I hope I've managed that. She slept with Jack for so many screwed-up reasons, not because she's a bad person. She hates herself, can't live with herself and is a complete mess."

Rita was recently nominated for the best newcomer prize at the British Soap Awards.