Her showbiz career started when she was just 11-years-old when she auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent in 2012, before going on to be a hit with fans as a CBBC presenter.
Since then, Molly Rainford’s career has continued to flourish as she secured a huge role in BBC’s EastEnders in 2023 following her Strictly Come Dancing appearance.
And the actress, 24, has now reflected on how ‘lucky’ she is to have support and on-site therapy while working on big TV shows, following an ‘eye-opening experience’ that she has now shared with the Daily Mail.
Molly went through a tough period last year when she lost her beloved nan Doreen, just one year after losing her cousin Ben. As a result of her devastating loss she has become the face of Marie Curie and Superdrug’s new initiative, launching the world’s first End of Life Salon.
Molly met former carer Ellen Goodwin, who has experience caring for both her mother and father at end of life, with Molly describing the experience as ‘eye- opening’.
At the age of 23, Ellen’s dad was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer and looked after by Marie Curie soon after, while her mum received an oesophageal cancer diagnosis just over a year later.
Molly Rainford has shared an ‘eye-opening experience’ that has made her reflect on how ‘lucky’ she is to have support and on-site therapy while working on EastEnders and Strictly
Her showbiz career started when she was just 11-years-old, and since then, the 24-year-old’s career has continued to flourish as she secured a huge role in BBC’s EastEnders in 2023 following her Strictly Come Dancing appearance (pictured with fiancé Tyler West)
Following the emotional chat with Ellen, Molly shared with the Daily Mail: ‘I hadn’t met any young carers who had to look after their parents, and she really opened my eyes to how real and raw it is.
‘I’m now at an age where I truly understand what these platforms are for, and it’s important for me to share it.’
She added: ‘I haven’t personally had therapy, but one thing I feel lucky about is with the industry I work in, a lot of the show’s I have done like Strictly and EastEnders have an on-site therapist or someone you can speak to, and I’ve been lucky enough to have that support if I need it. It couldn’t be more important.’
Reflecting on her own experience of losing a loved one, Molly said: ‘My gran didn’t make it to palliative care, if we knew that was an option it would have been more comfortable towards the end for her.
‘It does make you come together as a family and be there for each other. I saw my mum kind of revert to the baby in the situation and realised I had to step up and be her support.’
The initiative gifts people who are caring for someone in their final months, weeks or days with a free beauty treatment in recognition of their work.
The temporary pop-up comes ahead of a rollout of End of Life Salons across one weekend in January, when Superdrug’s Beauty Studios in selected stores up and down the UK will be giving away free gel manicures to carers who are looking after someone at the end of life.
The Salons aim to demonstrate gratitude and draw attention to the UK’s 762,000 unpaid carers who are supporting a loved one in their final months, weeks or days.
As a result of her devastating loss Molly has become the face of Marie Curie and Superdrug’s new initiative, launching the world’s first End of Life Salon
Molly met former carer Ellen Goodwin (right), who has experience caring for both her mother and father at end of life, with Molly describing the experience as ‘eye-opening’
Elsewhere, Molly is taking part in Celebrity Race Across The World with her fiancé Tyler West, who she met while performing on Strictly in 2022.
She admitted that they had their fair share of disagreements during filming, but have come out of the experience stronger than ever.
Molly told me: ‘I had the time of my life. I’ve never done the travelling thing before because I’ve worked since I was little, and it is quite scary to take time off and to be off the radar, so the opportunity to do that was amazing.
‘And to do it with Tyler was another level. We thought, if we can get through this, we can get through anything, hence why we are engaged now, and showed how we can pull together and be there for each other in a different way.
‘It really showed our strength and weaknesses. We are a real-life couple, of course we are going to have our disagreements and moments, but overall, it went super well in terms of our relationship and communication. It was nice not to have the outside noise for a bit and enjoy each others company.’
And it clearly did make them stronger as Tyler proposed when they returned from filming the BBC show, which began airing on November 6.
The KISS FM presenter, 29, popped the question during a romantic break to Mykonos. Posting a video of his stunning sunset proposal, Tyler captioned the post: ‘Found our forever. 10.8.2025.’
When asked if they have started planning the wedding, Molly explained: ‘My phone immediately sent me every wedding TikTok.
Elsewhere, Molly is taking part in Celebrity Race Across The World with her fiancé Tyler West, who she met while performing on Strictly in 2022
The show clearly made them stronger as Tyler proposed when they returned from filming the BBC show, which began airing on November 6
‘We have subconsciously picked some locations we like. We want to go abroad for the sun. In terms of date or anything official, there’s not a lot to report back on yet. We are enjoying our engagement bubble.’
The couple first met on series 20 of Strictly Come Dancing, where Molly was partnered with Carlos Gu, and Tyler was paired with Dianne Buswell.
Reflecting on her time on the show, Molly said: ‘It is surreal looking back. We think back to that time, and all of those experiences, and we made some really good friends from the show.
‘We love supporting them. I think Carlos and Kaz are amazing. We are also super close with Nial and Kai. We will for sure be inviting them to the wedding, but it depends where it is and when because they might be filming the next series!’
Tyler and Strictly partner Dianne lost to Molly and Carlos in the dreaded dance off on week eight of the BBC show. Molly went on to finish runner-up to Hamza Yassin.
The singer and radio host confirmed their relationship in June 2023 when they attended a launch party for chain restaurant Gaucho hand in hand.
Last year, Molly and Tyler moved into their first home together and began sharing their home improvement journey with their followers.
Alongside a clip of the couple inside their new home and in the ‘Strictly’ ballroom doing a clapping routine, Molly wrote on Instagram: ‘Well guys, it was only right that we let you into our little home, the next part of our journey starts now @homewithmolty.’
At the end of the clip, Tyler quipped: ‘We’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do babe.’
Carers can get their free manicure by visiting Eventbrite. The winners will be chosen on a first come first served basis by Wednesday 5th December, and will receive a free gel manicure to claim in a Superdrug Beauty Studio from the list of participating stores nationwide in January.
