‘EastEnders’ star Tanya Franks loves working with her co-star Ricky Champ because the pair have a lot of "fun and laughs" on set playing their characters Rainie Branning and Stuart Highway.
The 52-year-old actress’ alter ego has found romance with 39-year-old Ricky’s character and after Rainie and Stuart’s difficult beginnings in Albert Square she is delighted that the former addicts have found some happiness with one another and an unusual delight in running an undertakers together.
Tanya and Ricky have developed a great working relationship and she admits she couldn’t have been paired with a better guy by her bosses.
Speaking to the latest issue of Inside Soap magazine, she said: "We get on very well. We have a lot of fun and laughs. There’s a lot of trust there too and chats – he’s a great energy to have and be working with. It’s lovely, I’m very happy.
"I think it’s an exciting partnership, they’re both such unpredictable characters and they both have dark pasts. Plus, neither of them is particularly popular among the other characters in Albert Square."
Stuart has made a second, and very elaborate, proposal to Rainie and is desperate for her to marry him.
Tanya hopes that the couple will tie the knot although she doesn’t expect the writers to give her and Ricky straightforward nuptials, and will instead opt for a dramatic day in keeping with Walford’s other memorable weddings if it happens.
She said: "It will come down to Rainie accepting that someone does love her – and that Stuart’s really trying to prove his worth and do the right thing by her.
"The writers constantly surprise me with what they manage to find for Rainie and Stuart – so I’m not sure if I can even imagine what they might have up their sleeves. You could say it would be completely traditional, but then it could be something totally outlandish."
EastEnders actress Tanya Franks has ‘fun and laughs’ with Ricky Champ
