Coronation Street's real-life couples – mind-blowing engagements to messy breakups

Coronation Street just wouldn’t be Coronation Street without its relationship dramas.

But it’s even better when you discover that real-life relationships blossoming behind the scenes too.

It’s always exciting to find out that an on-screen couple – or even rivals – have got together off-screen, but this doesn’t just happen in Hollywood.

Even on our classic soaps, romance blossoms when actors spend so much time together.

And the world of Corrie has given us its fair share of co-star romances.

In fact, a good number relationships have formed between actors on the show, their romatantic endeavours running alongside the rows, births and proposals in the plot lines.

Here, we’ve delved a bit further into some of Corrie’s highest profile co-star romances, from those you’ve heard of to the ones you probably never expected.

Charlie De Melo and Nicola Thorp

Sparks flew on set between Charlie De Melo, who played Imran Habeeb, and Nicola Thorp, aka Pat Phelan.

They had been close friends for 10 years before sparking up a relationship during their time together on Corrie.

Back in September 2018, Nicola confessed she was “jealous” of her boyfriend having steamy romantic scenes with Georgia Taylor and Jane Danson, who play Toyah and Leanne Battersby respectively.

“Let’s just say I get very, very jealous of Charlie because Georgia and Jane and are absolutely gorgeous. He’s a lucky man,” she said.

Speaking to The Sun, she added: “I’m loving watching the storyline. I find it really funny, and I’m just super proud of him. I’m proud of the whole team and I’m really, really enjoying watching that classic Corrie comedy of errors.”

But behind their cute photos on social media, cracks were beginning to appear. In January 2019, reports emerged that the couple had split, with a source telling The Sun they decided to “cool things” after growing apart.

The source said: “As long as it doesn’t get awkward at work they’re happy, that’s their main concern, they also won’t be flaunting any new partners in front of each other, they plan to be very professional.”

Nicola later left the show, admitting that Corrie had ruined her sex life. She noted that men in bars would ask to take a selfie with her “for their nan”, rather than ask her out.

Alan Halsall and Lucy-Jo Hudson

Alan and Lucy starred together in the show from 2002 to 2005, and struck up a romance. The pair got married in 2009 then welcomed daughter Sienna-Rae into the world in 2013.

After two-and-a-half years, the couple briefly split, but got back together after a few weeks. Sadly, the couple then announced they were getting a divorce in May 2018.

The reason for their split was never revealed, but Alan reportedly joked to mates that he was having a ‘mid-life crisis’.

At first, things were amicable between them. Lucy-Jo told Loose Women: “We’re so amicable. We get on and we speak every day. He comes round for a brew. We will maintain as mummy and daddy..

“I’m up and down. It’s difficult. But we’re amicable and talking daily. We will remain friends and I genuinely mean that. We still care for each other.”

But when Lucy-Jo moved on with boyfriend Lewis Divine, things turned sour. Alan angered him by referring to Sienna-Rae as his own daughter after Lucy-Jo gave birth to their first child, son Carter.

Celebrating becoming a dad, Lewis wrote: “Our Sienna is delighted and is already making the best big sister, just like I knew she would!”

Alan then wrote on his Instagram story: “You’re welcome to keep the lying cheating one & call her your own! But not my daughter.”

The Mirror reached out to representatives of Alan and Lucy for comment at the time.

Alan says he doesn’t have much communication with his ex anymore apart from to discuss their daughter but they do appear to be on better terms.

On the topic of co-parenting Sienna, Alan noted that she has her parents and their partners to look after her.

“There’s always going to be ups and downs with a blended family,” he told OK! Magazine in July last year. “So long as Sienna comes first in all of it, that’s all that matters. Sienna’s got her mum and dad, and she’s also got Lewis and Tisha. It’s just a case that everybody loves her.

“Of course there will be differences of opinion; so long as we’re in that loving way when Sienna is around. We don’t have a great deal of communication, it’s only ever about Sienna and that’s all it ever needs to be.”

Alan Halsall and Tisha Merry

After all that drama, it seems Alan didn’t learn. He went on to date Tisha Merry in 2019, who played Steph Britton on the soap.

The pair went public with their romance a month later by posting a snap of them laughing together at the wedding of Sam Aston (Chesney Brown).

Tisha even discussed having kids with Alan. She told OK!: “He’ll be so amazing. When we were still friends, I got asked to babysit and asked Alan to come along. We got there and it was just Alan babysitting.

“He’s such a good dad; he’s so caring and loving. He notices everything and his communication with Sienna is so strong. I would love that for our child if we have one.”

Speaking about his daughter Sienna, she said: “In all honesty I’ve had a few times where I’ve thought ‘Oh my god, my life has changed so much’. It’s crazy but it’s changing for the better.

“When I first got together with Alan and I became a bigger part of Sienna’s life, my dad said ‘this will be the making of you.’

“It’s tricky when you’ve gone from being a single girl with no one else to think about to someone with a family. It’s the best thing in the world but it can be really daunting.”

Sally Carman and Joe Duttine

This couple blew the minds of dedicated Corrie fans everywhere.

Joe’s character Tim Metcalfe was married to Sally Webster on the show, who is best friends with Abi Franklin, played by Sally Carman.

But in 2018, it was revealed that Sally and Joe had struck up a real-life romance.

They moved in together in 2019 and got engaged in March 2020, announcing the news on Instagram.

Sally told Lorraine on Good Morning Britain last year: “We were friends for a while but then we started sharing puddings and I thought maybe something is on the boil.”

Apparently, it was easier for the relationship to play out because they didn’t have too many scenes on Corrie together.

Sally said: “It’s much better just because Johnny is a bit of a joker and he’s very funny and he can put you a bit off your stride!”

The couple’s 2021 wedding was sadly cancelled due to Covid restrictions, but plan to tie the knot this year instead.

Rob Mallard and Daniel Brocklebank

Rob Mallard, who plays Daniel Osbourne on the show, and Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Billy Mayhew, confirmed their romance back in 2017.

The pair announced their relationship at the British Soap Awards, gushing over each other at the ceremony. Rob even said Daniel was “the best thing I’ve taken home this year” while picking up the Best Newcomer gong.

They also wowed fans making their red carpet debut at the British LGBT awards, but sadly their romance came to an end after just two months.

Sources close to the couple told The Sun : “It was a lot of pressure for both of them to be working on the same show and going out – in the end something had to give.

“They decided to part ways a couple of weeks ago but they’re still great friends and hope to remain that way.”

Tina O’Brien and Bruno Langley and Ryan Thomas

Yep, you heard us – three names, not two. Tina O’Brien’s turbulent love life is akin to that of her character Sarah Platt on the show.

While her character was having a relationship with Todd Grimshaw, and also his brother, she had off-screen romances with both of the actors too.

At 17, Tina had a romance with Bruno, who played her character’s boyfriend Todd, for one year.

After that, she started dating Bruno’s on-screen brother Ryan Thomas, which we can imagine was a little awkward.

She told the Mirror in 2007: “It was five months later when I got together with Ryan and I was worried about it as he’s a friend of Bruno. But we worked hard to make sure there wasn’t any tension between the three of us.”

Tina had first fallen for Ryan when she was 13 years old at a Saturday drama club in Manchester, but initially there was was no instant attraction when they were thrown together again on the set of Corrie in 2003.

Eventually Tina started to warm to Ryan, and after “trying to fight it”, they kissed goodnight on a doorstep after a night out. Things soon turned serious and they became an official couple, but while together they had a number of arguments.

She said: “When we first started going out we were always arguing. I have a really bad temper and we had big fall-outs.

“We had a massive row once at his place when he had the builders in. They must have thought I was mental because I was screaming at the top of my lungs at him, ‘Why don’t you eff off.’

“I don’t even know what we argued about. It was always over the smallest of things. “We never split up but I did occasionally say, ‘That’s it, I’m never speaking to you again!’

“We still have big, big rows but we haven’t had one for a while. We don’t let things get to us now as we talk about what’s making us unhappy. We’re like an old married couple.”

They then had a daughter together in 2008, named Scarlet. But before she had turned one, their relationship came to a devastating end. Tina told new! Magazine: “He said I didn’t do it for him any more. Those were his words. I was absolutely devastated. He said he didn’t want the responsibility of a relationship with me.”

Now, the ex-couple seem to be on good terms, with Ryan even being invited to Tina’s wedding with Adam Crofts in 2018.

Faye Brookes and Sam Robertson

Faye Brookes, who is known for dating Pop Idol star Gareth Gates, is reported to have had a romance with co-star Sam Robertson while they were on a break.

Gareth and Faye apparently had a short split in September 2018, but got engaged in January 2019, then in August that year called off the wedding and broke up again.

She is said to have had a brief ‘fling’ with co-star Sam Robertson, who plays Adam Barlow, during a two-week break from Gareth.

An Insider told the Sun in 2019: “It was the talk of the Coronation Street set when Faye and Sam hooked up.

“Her castmates were under the impression the break from Gareth was simply to do with feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to make wedding plans.

“Sam was a good friend and a shoulder to cry on. Before they realised it, one thing had led to another. But Faye was keen to make things work with Gareth and put a halt to things with Sam going any further.

“She wanted to be honest with Gareth and confessed what had happened while they were apart. He thought he could get over it but, in the end, it was simply too much.”

Mirror Online approached a representative for Faye Brookes and Coronation Street at the time.

Faye went public with her new romance, with fitness trainer Joe Davis, in December 2019.

Sue Nicholls and Mark Eden

Perhaps one of the most well-loved Corrie couples going was legend Sue Nicholls relationship with Mark Eden – who played one of Weatherfield’s most notorious villains.

Her character Audrey Roberts has had many love interests including conman Lewis and her beloved husband Alf Roberts.

But in real life, Sue started a relationship with 60s heartthrob Mark Eden – the actor behind Rita’s villainous husband Alan Bradley.

Sue said in 2000: “Mark’s got grown-up children, who are delightful We’ve been together 17 years this July – longest he’s ever been with anybody – and married for the last seven. We met under a cherry tree in Mills & Boon fashion, at a party.

“I was wearing one of those Grecian dresses you could send off for, from a catalogue. He was in the middle of, sadly, parting from his second wife and he was lovely, and that was it. I did feel an instant kind of something.

“The first time we went out I nearly crashed the car, he made me laugh so much. I had to swerve into the verge. He stayed that night.

“But if you can’t be a bit daring in your late thirties, when can you? And it’s the only time I’ve ever chased anyone. He is very romantic. A very handsome man.”

The pair didn’t have any children together but Mark has three kids from his previous relationships who Sue adores.

The couple, who were married in 1993, had to spend a lot of time apart as Mark worked in London while Sue was in Manchester – but lived together in their later years.

“I met Mark late in life – I was nearly 40 – so children just didn’t happen,” Sue said in an interview in 2019.

“As much as I’d have liked it, I didn’t have family to bring up and worry about …maybe that’s helped keep me young.”

She continued: “It’s fine – I’ve never dwelled on it, or thought how hard done by I was, because you just never know what else is going to happen in life. All you can do is take each decade as it comes – and Mark is lovely.”

Sue said her leading man was an “old romantic” but noted: “We’re not sweetness and light all the time – that would be horrendous.

“But Mark is very romantic. He plays the piano, so we have a sing – possibly after a couple of glasses of wine. Mark serenades me with Frank Sinatra, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, all those romantic numbers.”

Sadly, Mark died on New Year’s Day last year following a battle with Alzheimer’s and being hospitalised in November.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk