Soap stars are no strangers to drama on and off-screen. While they may be rivals on different TV shows, they have no qualms about crossing the channel when it comes to romance. From secret relationships to whirlwind romances, here are some soap star couples who met and fell in love despite not starring in the same show.
Amy Walsh and Toby-Alexander Smith (Emmerdale and EastEnders)
Emmerdale star Amy Walsh, 36, recently tied the knot with her EastEnders villain fiancé Toby-Alexander Smith, 32, in a beautiful ceremony in Montenegro. The couple, who met in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing, share a one-year-old daughter and moved in together quickly before the coronavirus pandemic.
Samantha Womack and Oliver Farnworth (EastEnders and Corrie)
Samantha Womack, known for her role as Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders, found love with ex-Corrie actor Oliver Farnworth. The couple met while working together in the stage adaptation of The Girl On The Train in 2019. Samantha, who battled breast cancer last year, credits Oliver with encouraging her to be open about her experience and supporting her throughout her treatment.
Jane Danson and Robert Beck (Corrie and Hollyoaks)
Jane Danson, who has played Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street since 1997, has been married to fellow soap actor Robert Beck since 2005. Robert, known for his role as Peter Harrison in Brookside, also had a stint in Hollyoaks before being killed off. The couple first met at the British Soap Awards in 1999 and Jane admitted that Robert was her childhood crush when he was on Brookside.
Sophie Austin and Shayne Ward (Hollyoaks and Corrie)
Sophie Austin, known for her role as the Gloved Hand Killer in Hollyoaks, and Shayne Ward, who played Aidan Connor in Coronation Street, had a whirlwind romance. The couple got engaged in 2017 and have two children together. They have postponed their wedding due to the Covid pandemic but remain committed to each other.
Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan (Hollyoaks and Emmerdale)
Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan were friends for a long time before they started dating. Anthony, known for his role as Gilly Roach in Hollyoaks, and Nikki, who started out as Candice in Coronation Street, are head over heels for each other and couldn't be happier.
Soap stars may have rivalries on-screen, but when it comes to love, they have shown that they are not bound by the constraints of their TV shows. These couples have proven that real-life relationships can blossom regardless of their fictional worlds.
