
Shock exit for EastEnders star after two years as new boss makes sweeping changes
EASTENDERS star Molly Rainford is leaving the show after two years as new boss Ben Wadey makes sweeping changes.
The actress plays Queen Vic barmaid Anna Knight and arrived in 2023 as part of the new family taking over the iconic boozer.
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Molly Rainford is to leave EastEnders after two years
Credit: Getty
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The actress has played Anna Knight since 2023
Credit: BBC
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She joined the soap after becoming runner up on Strictly in 2022
Credit: BBC/Ray Burmiston
But just two years later discussions with bosses led to Strictly star Molly deciding to leave the show to pursue new opportunities.
A source said: 'New boss Ben Wadey is making sweeping changes on the show and his decision coincided with Mollie deciding she wanted to pursue other challenges.
'She's hugely talented and wants to spread her wings and see what else is out there for her.'
The BBC have confirmed Molly's exit saying: 'We can confirm that
future
.'
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An insider added: 'Molly came into the show two years ago, and in that time has been trusted with some great storylines.
'It's just so happened that when Molly was considering other options in her career, a meeting was held to discuss the future of the character, and both parties were in mutual agreement that it was the right time for Anna Knight to wave goodbye to Walford.'
Molly found fame aged 11 on Britain's Got Talent before becoming a TV presenter and actress on CBBC.
In 2022 she was the runner up on Strictly Come Dancing, losing out to wildlife cameraman
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Molly is the fourth star to leave under Ben Wadey's new tenure.
Bernie
Winter
star
Huge EastEnders star to QUIT soap after four years 'to look for other opportunities'
And her on-screen cousin,
next
month.
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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
'I can't believe I'm doing this and calling it a job!'
Johannes Radebe has to be one of the happiest people on the planet. And why not? The Strictly Come Dancing star is on tour in hit musical Kinky Boots and he can't wait to return to Dublin. It's quite remarkable to consider where Johannes Radebe came from and went through on his way to his current status as a much-loved pro dancer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show. As well as becoming a regular on Strictly, he's embarked on tours, and even found time to write a memoir, Jojo: Finally Home. That book is now being turned into a film. It's some story. Born in Zamdela, part of South Africa's Orange Free State, Johannes suffered homophobic bullying as a child, and had to endure race and class prejudice when competing at ballroom dancing. While living in Johannesburg and learning his trade, he spent some time homeless, but eventually became a dance teacher before learning his trade as a dancer on cruise ships. He then became a pro dancer on South Africa's version of Strictly Come Dancing before joining the touring cast of dance show Burn the Floor. In 2018 the BBC brought him to the mothership show, and he's been a Strictly showstopper ever since. He's currently touring in the lead role of Lola in Kinky Boots, the hit musical about a struggling shoe factory owner who meets Lola, a drag queen whose sparkle and unsteady heels might just hold the answer to saving his ailing business. The show plays at Dublin's Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from July 15 for a five-night run. It's a trip he's happy to make as it rekindles many happy memories. Greeting him on Zoom, his upbeat personality seems permanently set at 11. This guy oozes good vibes. John Byrne: So, Johannes, how much are you looking forward to bringing Kinky Boots back to Dublin? Johannes Radede: I've been to Ireland before, with my own tour, it was called Freedom Unleashed, and it happened two years ago. I didn't go back with my last tour because dates didn't work, and I was gutted. Because that's where I closed my show. You guys are a fantastic, fantastic audience. I go to a lot of places. I closed my show there and it was one of the best nights. Me and the entire team can agree with that. I remember I was onstage and everybody was chanting 'Ole, ole, ole, ole' and I felt like I was at a soccer tournament. I felt like a football star. You guys made me feel like that - and I'll never forget it. You're playing Lola in Kinky Boots. It's the kind of upbeat, inspirational role that you were clearly made for. You must have a hoot in those boots! You say the role was designed for me . . . When I first came to this country [the UK], I appeared with the heels on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2019. People said, Oh Johannes, you really need to play the role of Lola. And they hadn't even heard me sing! So, I guess I am everything that Lola represents. She is bold. She is confident. There are things about her that I still have to catch up to, but honestly I am thrilled to be doing it because it has been something I have secretly been wanting to do. But I would never confidently admit it to anybody, to say I would love to play that role because the singing - for me - was an issue. I just didn't want it to be celebrity casting, you know? At some point, honestly, it felt like that when I heard about the opportunity of doing Kinky Boots and auditioning for it. It took me two years to come to the decision to finally audition. I wanted to make sure that I was ready, so I went for singing lessons for two years, I went to acting classes, coaching. And after two years, as I said, I was 'Okay, may I please audition for this role?' And I've been loving it. How is the tour going so far? It's marvellous. Remember: I come to these places for one-nighters. So to be in a town for a whole week, you get to really experience the town itself. So that, for me, has been amazing. But getting back to the show - it's phenomenal. It's been received so well. Kinky Boots has a cult following. People love that show and they've loved it for many years. It's so beautiful that we have the show back. And not only back in London, it is touring again. And it's sending the message of the show: let's all be kind to one another, make space for one another, and accept each other for who we are. I can't tell you when I say that message with everything that's going on in the world - iIt's so important. To be so well-received on tour, it is the most beautiful thing. We've managed to bring theatre to people - which is to bring joy and perspective to people. And that's what we see happening every single night. People coming in numbers to really just support this show has really restored my faith in humanity. I can't believe I'm doing this and I'm calling it a job! Honestly, to be able to bring those four elements of musical theatre - which are acting, singing, dancing and dialogue - it's the most beautiful thing. But I'm surrounded by a cast of phenomenal people. They are phenomenal people. And so talented. With all that's going on in your career, and your memoir Jojo being made into a film, it's a very exciting time for you, isn't it? Listen, everything that's happening is obviously surreal. But at the same time - and please don't get me wrong when I say that - I'm honestly humbled by it all. It takes me back to how much one has had to go through, to sacrifice and compromise. I always say I am living a lovely, beautiful life at the moment. That's me doing it, without my family, my friends, without my tribe and community back home in South Africa. The most beautiful thing this platform has done is that it has given me the opportunity to give back to the community, the community that really helped me, and I wanted my success to be their success. 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Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
All eyes on Kneecap as Irish rap trio to perform at Glastonbury despite UK government calls for a ban
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Badenoch said in an X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times which said the BBC had not banned the group: 'The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. 'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. 'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.' Kneecap are not listed as one of the acts being shown live by the broadcaster. Michael Eavis, creator of the Glastonbury Festival said, in an apparent backing of Kneecap, that if people didn't like the politics of the festival, they could 'go somewhere else'. Ahead of the group's set, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson told the PA news agency: 'Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby.' Neil Young, best known for songs such as Rockin' In The Free World, Like A Hurricane and Cinnamon Girl, will headline the festival's Pyramid Stage on Saturday night with his band the Chrome Hearts. The BBC confirmed on Thursday that Young's set will not be broadcast live 'at the artist's request'. Another act expected to draw a big crowd is Brat star Charli XCX, who will headline the Other Stage around the same time Young and Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii will also perform. The 1975 headlined the festival's Pyramid Stage on Friday night, with the performance seeing singer Matty Healy joke he was his generation's 'best songwriter'. After performing Part Of The Band he sat on a stool while smoking and sipping his drink, Healy said: 'What this moment is making me realise is that I probably am the best songwriter of my generation. 'The best what they say, a poet, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am. 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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Kneecap to take to Glastonbury stage today despite Keir Starmer calling for them to be axed after terror charge
KNEECAP are set to perform at Glastonbury today despite calls from Sir Keir Starmer for the Irish hip hop trio to be banned. Frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh was 5 Naoise O Caireallain (left) and Liam Og O hAnnaidh of Irish band Kneecap on stage Credit: Getty 5 Og O hAnnaidh sits in a taxi after he left Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18 Credit: EPA 5 Calls have been made for O Caireallain, JJ O Dochartaigh and Og O hAnnaidh to be banned from Glastonbury Credit: Getty Earlier this month the rapper - who performs under the stage name Mo Chara - and bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh were mobbed by hundreds of fans outside Westminster Magistrates' Court. He was Kneecap are due on the Somerset festival's West Holts Stage at 4pm on Saturday. Prime Minister Starmer said it is "not appropriate" for the group to perform at the festival, which started on Thursday. Read more news Asked by The Sun on Sunday if he thinks Kneecap should play, the PM said: 'No I don't. 'I think we need to come down really clearly on this. I won't say too much, because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also said the BBC "should not be showing" the band's set in a post on social media. Her post said: "The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. Most read in Showbiz "One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. "As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism." Lead singer from the group Kneecap arriving at Westminster magistrates court in London The band are not currently listed for live broadcast. Avon and Somerset Police said: "Ticket-holders can once again expect to see uniformed officers on site at Glastonbury Festival 24/7 throughout the festival as part of our extensive policing operation ensuring it is safe for everyone attending, as well as those who live nearby." In response to the charge, Kneecap said in a post: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us... 'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification. 'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.' Hezbollah - founded in 1982 - is an Iran-backed Shiite militia. The Lebanese terrorist organisation voiced support for the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 2023 before launching guided rockets and artillery shells at Israeli-occupied positions. Israel has retaliated with strikes on Gaza - and the conflict remains ongoing, with thousands of people, including civilian children, killed. Kneecap has said they "do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah", condemned all attacks on civilians, and alleged footage was "deliberately taken out of all context" as part of a "coordinated smear campaign" over their criticism of "the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people". 5 Sir Keir Starmer says it is 'not appropriate' for them to cash in at the festival Credit: Getty 5 Og O hAnnaidh was mobbed by fans outside court earlier this month Credit: AFP