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Molly Rainford posing in a crimson dress© WireImage

Inside Molly Rainford's relationship with famous father – and how she defied mother's wishes

The EastEnders star appeared on Bridge of Lies

Phoebe Tatham
Content Writer
Updated: February 15, 2025
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Molly Rainford shot to fame thanks to her part in Nova Jones, and the star has gone from strength to strength since then, making the final of Strictly Come Dancing and securing a regular role on EastEnders.

The 24-year-old appeared to always be destined for stardom thanks to her parents. The star is the daughter of a professional footballer, and while her mother might not be in the limelight, it's clear how proud she is of Molly from her social media pages.

Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: Relive Molly Rainford's emotional moment on Strictly Come Dancing

As Molly makes an appearance on the hit game show Bridge of Lies, meet her parents below and find out how she went against their advice.

Molly's dad

Molly was born in 2000 in Essex to doting parents Dave and Sarah Rainford. Her dad catapulted to fame as the former Chelmsford City FC midfielder and assistant manager. The football star kicked off his youth career at Colchester United and returned to the team during his senior career in 1997.

Dave Rainford holding a trophy© Kieran Galvin/Shutterstock
Molly's dad is a former professional footballer

Aside from Colchester, Dave played for a variety of other teams, including Slough Town, Heybridge Swifts, Bishop's Stortford, and AFC Hornchurch. From 2012 to 2013, the football pro was hired as an assistant manager for Chelmsford City.

Molly's mum

Not much is known about Sarah's profession; however, it's clear to see that the doting mum is incredibly proud of her two children. Her Instagram page is largely dedicated to the sibling duo who have managed to forge their own successful careers. When Molly celebrated her milestone 21st birthday, Sarah penned a super sweet Instagram post to pay tribute to her only daughter.

Sarah and Molly Rainford posing in a bathroom© Instagram
Molly and Sarah have a close bond

Shedding light on their touching bond, Sarah wrote: "Happy 21st birthday to my beautiful girl, you are the most adorable, sweetest young lady. I couldn't be any prouder of you. Love you so much @mollyrainford."

How Molly defied parents' advice

When Molly joined the Strictly line-up in 2022, the star's mother showcased her incredibly protective side. Setting boundaries for their daughter, Dave and Sarah advised the actress to stay away from romance and focus on the competition.

Tyler West with his arm around Molly Rainford© WireImage
Molly started dating her Strictly co-star Tyler following her stint on the show

Although it appears that Molly heeded their advice during her time on the show, after filming wrapped, she ended up in a relationship with her co-star Tyler West. The couple went official in March 2023, sharing the news in a video where they lip-synched to the Friends scene where Joey and Rachel discovered Chandler and Monica's secret relationship.

The lovebirds moved in together at the end of 2023, with Tyler exclusively telling HELLO! at the time: "We've just bought our first home together. It's mad to say that, but when you know, you know… it's the right time." Molly added: "We never saw this coming, but everyone who meets us says it's as though we've been together forever – and that's exactly how it feels."

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