She’s famous for playing party-loving Roxy Mitchell, but we’re about to see a completely different side to EastEnders actress Rita Simons as she explores her Jewish faith in the new series of Pilgrimage.

For Rita, 46, taking on the Catholic pilgrimage route of Portugal’s Fatima Way with six other celebrities was a welcome chance to show people who she really is. “I wanted to show I’m not this party girl from Ibiza in the East End, I’m actually not Roxy, I’m Rita, I’m a mum, I’m middle-aged,” she says. “It was refreshing to be asked to do something where we’re talking spiritual ideas and culture.” Although she was raised as Jewish, the former soap star is the first to admit that she isn’t particularly religious, saying: “I’m sure there’ll be some people who will judge.” But after a tough few years which included divorce, hysterectomy and a battle with depression, Rita knows that life’s too short to worry about other people’s opinions. “If anyone’s got a problem with it then maybe they need to get a hobby,” she says.

Also trekking the route through the stunning Portuguese landscape alongside her for the fifth season of the BBC Two show are Christians Su Pollard, Millie Knight and Shane Lynch, Catholic Bobby Seagull, Muslim Nabil Abdulrashid, and agnostic Vicky Pattison.

The pilgrims quickly formed a tight group - as Rita explains: “You’re literally digging into someone’s soul when you’re asking about their faith.” “You never know what you’re going to get on a show like that,” she adds. “I wasn’t expecting that level of caring about somebody on a documentary. “Me and Bobby bonded over washing our underwear in a sink together and then hanging it on each other’s bags to dry as we walked.

Rita Simons distances herself from EastEnders: 'I'm not a party girl, I'm not Roxy'

Related News