Tanya Franks has landed a leading role in a musical just weeks after going public with the ex of the BBC soap’s legendary actress, Barbara Windsor.
The ex-EastEnders star, 55, played Rainie Cross over the course of several stints since first appearing in Walford in 2007, finally leaving the soap last June.
But now she’s has signed up for Calendar Girls The Musical – a production co-written by Take That’s Gary Barlow and Tim Firth.
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Appearing alongside Maureen Nolan and Honeysuckle Weeks, Tanya will play Annie Clarke, whose husband’s death inspires a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women to produce a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research.
It caps an exciting month for Tanya, whose new beau Scott Mitchell detailed the pair’s romance in an Instagram post whilst they holidayed in Greece.
(Image: BBC, BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Discussing the show, which begins a tour of the UK next month, Gary revealed: “I am delighted to be working on this new production of Calendar Girls and getting ready for the joy, the laughter, and the nostalgia to take the stage again.
“It’s been 20 years this year since the film was released, and around 10 years since I first saw Tim’s play with my mum Marjorie.
“We’ve already had a fantastic time in the rehearsal room workshopping the show and weaving in new music, reworked songs and reimagining the book.
“We cannot wait to see the way these incredible leading ladies bring the story to bloom as we head out on tour later this year.”
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
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After kicking off at Windsor’s Theatre Royal on August 30, the production heads to several cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, Hull and Leeds.
The new couple first bonded as they trained for the London Marathon together.
They are believed to be living in Scott’s £4 million West London home that he used to share with Barbara.
Earlier this year, the widower discussed his two-year grief battle and said it’s “getting better'” and shared Barbara’s sweet words with him before she died.
(Image: Getty Images)
Scott told Best: “Before she died, Barbara told me to cry, be broken-hearted, then have the best time. Knowing Barbara, she would have remarried a nice 25-year-old by now!”
He went on to say how Barbara will always be important to him, but it is time to think about his future now.
Scott added: “Now it’s time to think about me and my future. Barbara will always be a massive part of my life, but she would want me to move on.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
