In Tuesday’s episode, viewers will see the former Strictly contestant’s character Anna Knight get her drink spiked on a night out with friends

EastEnders star Molly Rainford has revealed her pride at being involved in a new drink-spiking storyline, as her friends have been real-life victims.

Viewers will see the former Strictly contestant’s character Anna Knight get spiked on a night out with friends in Tuesday’s episode, in what is being billed as the new big issue plot for the BBC One soap. Initially, Anna’s pals, including Bobby Brazier’s Freddie and Francesca Henry’s Gina, believe she’s just drunk. But it then becomes clear it’s something more sinister and she ends up being rushed to hospital.

The soap has worked closely with charities on the story but Molly, 23, reveals she has already seen the horrors of drink-spiking up close. “My friends have been spiked,” says the actress who grew up in Essex. “This happens to people my age. [That’s why] I was so pleased when EastEnders told me I was going to have this storyline.”

It’s certainly an important issue. In the year to April 2023, there were 6,732 incidents reported that “could be related to spiking”, latest official figures show. This is up from 1,903 in 2019 and reveals a 254% increase in such criminality.

It was estimated that one in 10 young people have had a drink spiked. Other surveys warn the number of those affected could actually be as high as seven in 10. “It’s great that Eastenders are highlighting drink spiking,” adds Molly, “and [that I get to] warn young people of the dangers.”

Molly is equally thrilled that she gets to do such important storylines with great actors. She joined the show last year as part of the Knight family who took over The Queen Vic. Her on-screen mum is the back-from-the-dead Cindy Beale played by Michelle Collins, while Bond and 24 star Colin Salmon plays her dad George.

“To work with Michelle who is so iconic as Cindy and have her play my mum is so great,” Molly says. “And I am also really lucky to have Colin as my dad. He’s really sweet and it’s amazing to me how much he’s done. I look at this career and think, ‘Wow, it’s incredible to be working alongside him’.”

Molly first found fame when she became the youngest-ever finalist on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2012.

At the age of 11, she wowed Simon Cowell and the other judges, as she belted out Jennifer Hudson’s One Night Only, before eventually losing out to winning dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey. She then went on play the title role in CBBC comedy drama Nova Jones as an intergalactic pop star before making the final of 2022’s Strictly with pro Carlos Gu and landing her EastEnders gig.

On the show Molly is dating stepbrother Bobby Beale, played by Clay Milner Russell, who is set to leave the show after five years. But off screen the star has been going out with fellow 2022 Strictly star DJ Tyler West, who danced with Diane Buswell in the series.

Speaking at the launch party of new London bar Albert’s Schloss, Tyler, 28, says: “Our relationship does feel like a whirlwind! We started dating last January and we moved in together this January and it is all thanks to Strictly.”