Glynis Barber 'very taken aback' at EastEnders double death

Glynis Barber was "very taken aback" when 'EastEnders' characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell were killed off.

The 66-year-old star played Glenda Mitchell, the mother of Ronnie (Sam Womack) and Roxy (Rita Simons), who died in 2017, and she was left shocked when the pair were written out of the BBC One soap.

Asked whether she was surprised when the siblings were axed, she said: "Yeah, I really was – along with everybody else, I think, including them!

"I think that was a shock, for two iconic, great characters.

"I think we were all very taken aback at that."

Glynis hasn't appeared as Glenda since 2017, and she has since moved soaps, after landing the part of gangster Norma in 'Hollyoaks'.

And she admitted the new character will be "around for a while".

Speaking to Digital Spy, Glynis said: "Norma is a gangster and she has a criminal empire.

"I'm still not quite sure how big this empire is, but I'm presuming it is quite extensive. She is, I would say, a very, very dangerous woman. Norma has infiltrated the police.

"When she gives a threat, she does actually mean it, and she will follow through.

"She's going to be around for a while. I know a broad outline of what's coming up.

"I don't know everything that's going to happen, because things happen every week ... I've just been shooting some scenes today that I absolutely loved, but I can't tell you anything about them, because I think they're for July or June, with a completely different character. They were brilliant.

"They might even be my favourite scenes so far. You just won't believe these scenes."

The full Glynis Barber interview can be read on the Digital Spy website: https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a39813234/hollyoaks-spoilers-eastenders-glynis-barber-norma-interview/