Rita Simons is utterly beloved by soap fans as EastEnders’ Roxy Mitchell, whos platinum blonde mane felt like an integral part of her identity. Rita, though, is looking to embrace a bleach-free life, and is slowly but surely returning to her natural colour.

Taking to her Instagram yesterday, Rita uploaded a video of her trip to the salon.

Showcasing her shimmering, natural locks, she then documented the process of having extensions installed, before sharing a beautiful snap of the finished product, alongside a sweet snap alongside her stylist.

‘That’s it! Officially sick of the blonde! …with the help of the gorgeous Emma at @artelierhairformby and @greatlengths_official we are getting there!’ Rita began in the caption of the video.

‘No more bleach for me. This new hair actually covers a fair bit of the old blonde whilst we grow it out…so no need to colour my own hair. Thank you @artelierhairformby @greatlengths_official for getting me back to me!’

The salons Instagram, which Rita tagged in her post commented: ‘Couldn’t be happier with this gorgeous result! Always a pleasure having you in the chair’, while former Hollyoaks co-star, Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne) wrote: ‘oooo i love it’.

Fans were also incredibly complimentary of Rita’s fresh look, with @tammysint commenting: ‘Wow love that! so beautiful’. @nickig77 added: ‘Love this’, while @scarlettwillingale said: ‘Looks amazing’.

@alice_todd19 said: ‘It looks lovely’, while @emmalm04 dropped: ‘The nicest way to spend a Saturday afternoon’.

Rita the soap icon

Rita recently departed her second soap role, leaving Hollyoaks behind after two years playing troubled Marie Fielding during its 30th anniversary celebrations and moving to Brookside close alongside her son, Arlo (Dan Hough).

Announcing her departure back in June, Rita took to Instagram to inform her fans of her decision.

‘Since Marie Fielding stepped into Hollyoaks village, she’s sufficiently messed up all her boys lives, Caused ALL the carnage and fallen off the wagon a few times…so her job here is done!,’ she said, alongside a few screen grabs from her time on the show.

‘On a personal note, when I first came to Liverpool I was still figuring out how find balance in my mind and body after a total hystorectomy (which was the best journey I ever went on in the end!).

‘This beautiful, welcoming city has healed me more than I can ever explain. I will always have such love for my second home and the wonderful people of Liverpool.

‘But now I feel strong, I can metaphorically walk on my own again, and I need to do just that. So It’s time to thank everyone at Hollyoaks for being the best tonic I could’ve asked for. But London and my true home is calling and I have to follow my heart. Gone are the days of not listening to my soul. So…Londons calling baby!’

The Sun reported at the time that the door would be left open for Marie to return down the line, confirming that she wouldn’t be among the pile of corpses left behind in the plane crash planned as the anniversary stunt.

After her exit aired, Rita said: ‘I’ve loved every second of playing Marie, from her questionable parenting choices to her excessive partying. Spending these last two years in Liverpool with the wonderful cast and crew of Hollyoaks has been full of love and support but sadly it’s time to move on.

‘I will miss everyone in the village, especially my boys, Rory, Tyler and Dan.

‘Also, I want to thank Hannah Cheers for giving me the most iconic exit – Brookside Close better watch out! You never know in the world of soap…’

A Roxy return?

Since the moment Rita announced that she was leaving Hollyoaks, fans went into overdrive with the possibility that she’d head back to Walford and reprise her role as the (unfortunately deceased) Roxy.

Metro readers took to X (formerly Twitter), with one commenting: ‘Welcome back Roxy Mitchell,’ while another said: ‘ROXY MITCHELL LOOMS’. A third commenter added: ‘Get her back to Walford pronto, Ben Wadey – however you can!’

Samantha Womack, who played Roxy’s sister, Ronnie, who drowned alongside her when the two got tangled in a wedding dress after falling in a pool, previously spoke on her joy that fans are still yearning for her characters return.

EastEnders super fan and podcast host, Amy Hart, while interviewing Samantha asked: ‘Is it flattering that everyone is willing to let the plot go to the side? We’ve seen Ronnie in her coffin, but they’re willing to let that go?’

‘I am [flattered]’ Samantha responded.

‘I’m always amazed – I still get stopped probably about eight, nine times a day when I’m here in the UK – not just with someone like grabbing me, you know, just like, ‘Ronnie!’ – there was a guy on the South Bank yesterday, he was on one of those Lime bikes, and he’s screeched to a stop.’

‘He had his earphones in, and he’s like, ‘oh, my God, Ronnie. I can’t believe it, you’re my favourite character ever. Oh man, they’ve got to bring you back, they’ve got to.’

‘And he’s got have been like 19, 20. I was like, ‘Hey, when were you watching it? Because you must have been young!’