My pals have been spiked...it's great to warn of the risk

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.

- SANJEETA BAINS

Viewers will see the former Strictly contestant's character, Anna Knight, have her drink spiked on a night out with friends in tonight's episode in what is being billed as the new bigissue plotline for the BBC1 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 shocking 254% increase in such criminality.