EastEnders: Samantha Womack admits that she's 'broken' after Ronnie Mitchell's death

Although many were left confused following EastEnders’ hour-long New Year’s Day episode, one thing is for sure: Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell are dead.

Just hours after Ronnie tied the knot to the love of her life, Jack Branning, at a fancy country hotel, she died trying to save her sister after she drowned in the hotel’s swimming pool when they broke in after hours.

It is understood that the weight of the bride’s huge dress is what caused her to drown.

Now Samantha Womack, who has played troubled Ronnie for the last nine years, has taken to Twitter to admit that she was “broken” after being killed off from the BBC soap.

She wrote: “I’m sorry I can’t respond to any comments..I’m honestly broken. An appropriate end to the darkest year ever.@OfficialRita @RealScottMaslen”.

Rita Simons, who played Roxy, felt the same, tweeting: “Thank you all for your lovely tweets. I don’t really have words right now. But words will come.. in good time #R&R”.

Scott Maslen plays Ronnie’s husband, Jack, and he was also feeling an R&R-shaped hole in his life, adding: “End of an era! #ronnieandroxy loved working with @sam_womack and @OfficialRita #eastenders #sadtimes thanks for all the tweets!”

It is no secret that Samantha and Rita weren’t impressed when EastEnders’ new producer revealed his plans to kill the two sisters off, with Rita previously admitting that she and Samantha were overwhelmed with emotion as they filmed their final scenes in Walford.

She explained at the time: “Samantha would have a day where she couldn’t stop crying and I would be really cold and strong and I would look after her. Then the next day it would be me who’d be set off by a packet of coffee or whatever and she would be strong.

“We’ve taken it in turns to be upset because one of us needs to be strong for the other.”

The pair’s EastEnders’ cast mates also took to social media to pay tribute to the two actresses, with Danny Dyer writing: “Two beautifully complex Eastenders Icons. On screen chemistry personified. Nothing but love for ya’s #missed. @Sam_Womack @OfficialRita X .”

Aaron Sidewell, who plays Steven Beale, added: “I joined a month after @rita_simonsofficial nearly 10 years ago and she’s been an amazing friend ever since.

“It saddens me that I can’t see you every day but excites me to see what’s coming for you in the future. #AuntieTina #Bitty #mitchellsisters”.

It’s true to say that it is an end of an era for soap fans.