EastEnders is a big beast I hope I can do it justice’, says Molly Rainford as she lands her biggest role yet

WHEN it comes to Strictly Come Dancing, we’re used to hearing about the infamous Curse, which has been blamed for the end of many a relationship over the years.

So it’s lovely to see a big smile on Molly Rainford’s face as she talks about how she actually found love on the BBC1 show.

Molly Rainford reveals how she actually found love on Strictly Come Dancing

Molly is about to become a whole lot more famous, after landing the role of Anna Knight on EastEnders

The 22 year old reached the final of the BBC1 show last year

The 22 year old, who reached the final last year, might not have taken home the Glitterball trophy, but she did manage to walk away with something equally as good, after friendship turned to love with fellow contestant Tyler West, 27, during the Strictly tour.

She explains: “I suppose it developed towards the end of the tour because we’d spent so much time together and we were really good friends.

“The tour was so much fun. We were just doing everything together and it just progressed from there really.”

And who made the first move?

Molly giggles: “He was like: ‘Do you think when we get back, we could go on a date?’ and I was like: ‘Yeah, alright!’ I was totally up for it.

“Everyone on Strictly was so excited for us. They kind of wanted it to happen [all the way through the show] and we were like: ‘No, we are trying to be professional’.”

The best thing about dating a fellow Strictly contestant is that Molly now has someone to shimmy around the living room with.

“We dance all the time,” she admits. “Maybe one night, we will try some lifts, but first we need to put loads of mattresses down!”

Of course, when you get together with someone new, there are all those “firsts”, like meeting friends and family, but thankfully, Molly and Tyler had already done most of that.

“It was such good timing,” she says. “We‘d already got all the scary stuff out of the way — our parents were in the Strictly audience together and they got on really well.”

For many people, Strictly would have been the first time they had seen CBBC presenter Molly, but she’s about to become a whole lot more famous, after landing the role of Anna Knight on EastEnders.

But while landing a role in a primetime soap is a big deal, she actually got her break more than a decade ago, aged 11, as a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent — and has Simon Cowell to thank for her whole career.

Although she didn’t win the talent show, Simon was so impressed with her singing, he offered her a scholarship to the famous Sylvia Young Theatre School, which Jesy Nelson and Rita Ora also attended.

“That was what kicked everything off,” Molly explains. “The scholarship actually was the first of its kind. I feel so lucky, because I could get my education and still pursue my passion.

“Then I starred in Nova Jones [a CBBC show about an intergalactic pop superstar who goes on a tour through space], which was amazing.

“I can’t believe that something that was my little hobby at the beginning has turned into my career.

“It feels great, and like such a nice, natural progression. I’ve gone from the CBBC world into the BBC. It was like I graduated from university.”

Molly’s role on EastEnders is part of new family, the Knights, and is something BBC bosses are hoping will be a ratings winner for the soap.

Molly says: “EastEnders is such a big beast. It’s stood the test of time. And you do feel: ‘Oh my gosh, I’m coming into this world.’

“My family are East End born and bred, so everyone thinks it’s cool. I hope I can do it justice.

“Everyone’s buzzing that it won Best Soap in The British Soap Awards recently, so it just feels like I’ve come in at the best time. It’s such an iconic show.”

The Knight family has swapped the sunny climes of Marbella for Walford, and they have big shoes to fill as they take over from Mick Carter (played by Danny Dyer) running the Queen Vic. 

Molly’s friendship turned to love with fellow contestant Tyler West, 27, during the Strictly tour

She reveals: ‘We‘d already got all the scary stuff out of the way — our parents were in the Strictly audience together and they got on really well’

Linda Carter’s mum Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) and her tough-talking partner George (Colin Salmon), plus his two daughters Anna (Molly) and Gina (Francesca Henry) have already caused chaos.

As well as Linda clashing with George, and the girls turning the heads of Bobby Beale, this week is set to be a huge one for Molly, as her character finds out what really happened to her mum Rose, who went missing nine years ago.

She almost disowns her dad over the revelation.

Who knows what’s going to happen next? It turns out, not Molly! 

“My mum and dad have been trying to get the dirt, but I’m like: ‘Guys, there’s so much going on. I actually forget.’

“Tyler always wants to know. He’s hooked already. And I’m sworn to secrecy. I genuinely don’t know what’s happening to my character in the next couple of weeks.

“That’s what’s special about the show, as it keeps you on your toes.

“Every producer on EastEnders has their own [on-screen] family.

“They’ve been searching for a while, so the audition process was quite long — I didn’t know who my dad was until the final round, when I read with Colin and I thought: ‘This would be such a cool job if I get it.’ What an actor to play my dad!

“Honestly, you go into a scene with Colin and you just feel safe. Harriet, who plays my stepmum, is the best.

“She’s one of those old classic theatre performers. You need a bit of that in your life. I’ve got a new sister, too — I’ve never had a sister before — Frankie, who is lovely.

“Kellie [Bright], who plays Linda, is the best coach for working in the Vic.

“If you’re not doing anything, she says: ‘Why don’t you just play around with the card machines so it looks like you’re busy?’ She gives you lots of useful tips.”

After growing up watching the soap, winning a role on it has been extra-special for Molly. 

“I thought when I was young that Walford was a real place and people lived there,” she says.

“So when I was on set, I felt like a little kid. It was like going to Disneyland: ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve seen this, and it’s all real.’ It’s like: ‘Wow, I’m actually here.’ 

“Getting to work in the Queen Vic too, where you meet literally every character. I served an orange juice to Phil Mitchell the other day.

“Steve [McFadden, who plays Phil] said that one of his daughters was called Molly, and I was like: ‘This feels very surreal.’

“The whole cast and crew — especially those who’ve been there for decades — they’re so supportive, because they want it to be the best it can be.

“They’ve been through it all, so they’re great mentors. I’m like: ‘Teach me everything you know!’”

Every new cast member is given their own mentor when they start, to help them settle into the demands of the job – and Molly’s is her Strictly pal James Bye, who plays Martin Fowler.

“It was really lovely, because when I first got an audition, I said to him: ‘I’ll be at the casting,’ and he said: ‘I’ll see you in a few months,’ and now he’s my mentor.

“On my first day, I had a scene with him and it just felt comforting. I thought: ‘OK, I’ve got a friend on set already.’

“It’s really nice that a lot of the cast have done Strictly, so I got in there quick with that ice-breaker as we have that shared experience.”

And after HOAR revealed that Bobby Brazier, who plays Freddie Slater, is set to compete on Strictly – will Molly be giving him any advice?

“For sure, I’ll give him tips. What’s crazy about Bobby is our dads have been friends since they were like, seven.

“They used to play football together [Molly’s dad David played for Chelmsford City FC, while Bobby’s dad is Jeff Brazier and his mum was Jade Goody]. He’s going to be great. Bobby has got rhythm.”

For any young actress, landing a role on a massive soap like EastEnders would be a dream come true, but for Molly it feels particularly poignant.

She says: “It feels really special that we’re one of the first mixed-race families in the Queen Vic.

“Like me, Frankie is also mixed-race but she’s got different hair texture to me and a different skin tone, so I feel like we are representing quite a lot of people in that pub.

“It’s something I’ve not seen that much of, so it’s really special.”

What Molly is trying to get her head around is the demanding filming schedule as the soap stars start to work on their explosive Christmas episodes.

She admits: “I’m still working out the timings, because I’ve been working there a couple months now, but my episodes have only just aired.

“So I’m still navigating what the timeframe is, but apparently, it’s like you’re in summer clothes in the winter, and winter clothes in the summer!

“In the storyline, we’ve come over from Spain, so we’re not wearing a lot — I’m hoping Anna gets a nice warm winter coat very soon!”

Despite EastEnders being a pretty demanding job, Molly has also found time to record her debut single, My Heart’s A Broken Record.

The song, which she recorded with producer Alex Kirsch, is a summer banger and will be playing on a loop in your head all day.

“Music has always been a passion project,” she explains. “I’ll never lose the desire to be an artist.

“So I’m really excited, because when the sun’s out, people just want that feel-good, fun music, and this is the track for that. I love it.” 

As her DJ boyfriend Tyler has a weekday slot on radio station Kiss, has he guaranteed to give it some airplay?

“I did say: ‘This is quite a Kiss summer sound,’ but actually, it isn’t up to him. There’s a whole team that decides on the playlists.

“Funnily enough, there was a Michael Calvin track that I wrote and sang on a few years ago, and Tyler said he used to play it in his DJ sets – he didn’t even know it was me singing on it!”

Singing, dancing and acting – Molly is a total triple threat and it’s hard to ignore the similarities between her and Miley Cyrus, who also starred in a children’s TV show about a pop star, before becoming one herself, as well as dipping her toe into acting.

Is that what Molly is aiming for?

“I’m hoping that’s the direction it’s going in,” she says.

“I think Miley’s great. She’s just so cool and doesn’t keep herself to just one box – she’s not just a singer, she does everything.

“That’s what I’d love to do. I don’t want to just stay in one lane, I want to do everything I can.”

And with that attitude, she’s sure to achieve it.  

• Molly’s single My Heart’s A Broken Record is out July 15 with EMI/Positiva.

Molly actually got her break more than a decade ago, aged 11, as a contestant on Britain’s Got Talent

The TV star has also found time to record her debut single, My Heart’s A Broken Record

She reveals: ‘Music has always been a passion project’