In the television landscape, character departures are typically viewed as final, especially when they involve a high-profile, dual-fatality drowning. Yet, nearly a decade after Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell met their tragic end in a swimming pool on New Year’s Day 2017, the Mitchell sisters remain more relevant than ever. What began as a mourning period for fans has evolved into a sophisticated, grassroots movement to bring the iconic duo back to EastEnders, with enthusiasts now going as far as to submit fully realized scripts to the show’s former stars.

Rita Simons, who portrayed the firecracker Roxy Mitchell, recently shed light on the extraordinary lengths to which the fan base has gone. According to Simons, the devotion has transcended mere social media campaigns. She revealed that fans are now authoring detailed screenplays, constructing intricate and “really convincing” narratives that would allow the sisters to return from the dead. These scripts are reportedly so cleverly designed that even Simons herself has admitted they feel plausible, highlighting a collective refusal to accept the 2017 exit as the definitive end of the Mitchell legacy.

The persistent “never say never” attitude isn’t entirely without precedent in the world of British soaps. EastEnders has a storied history of resurrecting characters whose deaths were once thought absolute. From Dirty Den’s reappearance to the more recent returns of Kathy Beale and Cindy Beale, Walford has proven that the grave is not always a permanent residence. Fans are leveraging this historical precedent, arguing that if Cindy Beale can survive an off-screen death in prison, the Mitchell sisters—whose “unfinished” stories continue to haunt viewers—deserve a similar miracle.

The level of scrutiny applied to the actresses’ current activities has reached a fever pitch. Simons recounted an instance where a simple promotional video for a pantomime performance was dissected by fans on TikTok. In a display of extreme dedication, some viewers joked that her blinking in the video was actually Morse code, a secret signal announcing her return to the Square. While humorous, these theories underscore a deeper truth: Ronnie and Roxy were deeply ingrained in the show’s fabric, and their absence left a void that current storylines have struggled to fill.

For Rita Simons and Samantha Womack (who played Ronnie), this relentless support is met with genuine warmth. While Simons has maintained a busy career, most recently appearing in Hollyoaks, she continues to acknowledge the fans’ passion with gratitude. She noted that without this level of vocal support, the idea of a return would have likely been dismissed by producers years ago.

As EastEnders continues to lean into its rich history, bringing back legacy characters to boost ratings and emotional stakes, the appetite for a Mitchell resurrection shows no signs of waning. Whether through a radical retcon, a witness protection twist, or an entirely unexpected creative pivot, the message from the viewers is clear: the Mitchell sisters are waiting in the wings. In Walford, where the dead have a habit of resurfacing when least expected, the scripts being written today might just become the reality of tomorrow. One thing is certain: the legacy of Ronnie and Roxy is far from buried.