EastEnders Ricky star Sid Owen's love life – from famous actress romance to dancer fling

EastEnders icon Ricky Butcher has returned to Albert Square – and it looks likely that he has his eyes set on former flame Sam Mitchell.

Although Ricky’s relationship with Patsy Palmer’s Bianca is one of the most famous in soapland, her former hubby once shared a romance with Sam.

Following Ricky’s surprise arrival on the square, will a spark reignite between the two following their date? Or will the chemistry fizzle out?

READ MORE: EastEnders real life couple splits – Stephen Mulhern romance to heartbreaking loss

While viewers wait to see what will happen next, Daily Star has taken a closer look at the love life of Ricky Butcher star Sid Owen.

Cathy Hubbard

Before becoming engaged to fiancé Victoria, it is reported that EastEnders icon Sid was previously engaged to dancer Cathy Hubbard.

He popped the question to Cathy in 2000, and the couple were engaged for more than three years, but they tended to keep their relationship out of the limelight.

However, they parted ways in 2003.

It is not known what led to their break-up and who Cathy has dated since.

Polly Parsons

Following his romance with Cathy Hubbard, Sid embarked on a relationship with another famous TV star.

In 2006, the EastEnders icon began dating Polly Parsons, who is known for her role in children’s series, Genie in the House.

The couple are reported to have met while working on the pantomime, Snow White And The Seven Dwarves, at the Beck Theatre in Hayes, Middlesex.

The Daily Mail reported that the two stars claimed it was “love at first sight,” with the couple soon moving in together.

Sid later popped the question in 2009 while they were on holiday in Barbados, with Sid telling OK! Magazine at the time: “There was a raft out at sea which we’d swim out to.

“I didn’t have a ring so I got this guy on the beach to make one out of beads in the reggae colours, as I love my reggae, and I put that in my back pocket and we swam out there and I proposed.”

However, their romance did not last and the couple later split in 2012 after more than six years together.

Speaking about their break-up to The Sunday Mirror, Sid said: “We’re still good friends but we are not together anymore. I’m single.”

Polly, who has since hosted programmes including The Real Hustle, later married footballer Thomas Vermaelen in 2017, with who she has two children.

Victoria Shores

Sid is now happily engaged to his fiancée Victoria Shores – but did you know that they previously dated before rekindling their romance more than two decades later?

The couple first met in 1998, with the pair originally embarking on a relationship that lasted for more than a year.

Sid and Victoria were both mutual friends of Jamie Wood, the son of Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood, and originally met at a party thrown by his famous father.

Sid told OK! Magazine: “We were at a party at Ronnie Wood’s house in 1998. We’re both friends with his son Jamie.”

Victoria added that it was also a star-studded night, with celebrities such as Kate Moss in attendance, but that her eyes were drawn to Sid.

“Sid doesn’t remember how we met but I do,” she added.

“I recall standing in the kitchen having a glass of wine, Sid walked in and I thought he had a cheeky smile. I think I knew who he was but it wasn’t a big thing to me – I didn’t watch much TV.

“He came towards me, hit Jamie and said, “Is she single?” while looking at me, so I could hear him. He asked for my number and I gave it to him.”

The couple dated for more than a year but kept their relationship away from the limelight, with Victoria visiting Sid most weekends.

However, their romance came to an end in 1999 and the couple admitted that they do not know why they ended their relationship, with Sid adding: “I think it was just one of those things where we were young – we didn’t sit down and split up or have an argument.”

Sid and Victoria later re-connected in 2020, with the EastEnders icon revealing to The Sun that he was “finally settling down.”

He said: “We first dated 23 years ago, and have been dating for the last year.

“It’s the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m finally settling down.”

After their whirlwind romance in 2020, Sid and Victoria announced one year later that they were engaged and set to marry in 2022.

OK! Magazine reported that their star-studded guest list was due to include Sid’s former EastEnders co-stars Charlie Brooks and Dean Gaffney and Adele’s ex-husband Simon Konecki who will be his best man.

That’s not all, as Sid’s on-screen flame Patsy Palmer is also reported to be taking to the decks for a DJ set on the big day.

However, Sid told the publication that the couple were not planning to marry until after the birth of their first child together, who was born in early 2022.

Dad at 49

Sid became a dad for the first time in 2022, after Victoria gave birth to their daughter Skye.

Sharing a picture of himself in scrubs, kissing Victoria, on Instagram, Sid captioned the sweet post: “Been a long a day. But. Can I say. I love you Victoria. Thank you for our baby.”

The Daily Star reported that Victoria, who has two children from a previous relationship, had previously suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage one year before the birth of daughter Skye.

Following the birth, Sid’s EastEnders co-stars flocked to Instagram to share their congratulations with the couple, with messages shared by Patsy Palmer, Dean Gaffney and Danniella Westbrook, to name a few.

However, speaking about the birth on Good Morning Britain alongside his Victoria and Skye, the actor shared the terrifying moment that he had to call 999 after Victoria nearly died during childbirth.

They revealed that after Victoria was rushed to hospital, she needed a blood transfusion, before enduring an emergency C-section four weeks early due to a placenta previa diagnosis, where a low-lying placenta covers the cervix.

The couple explained that after discovering her placenta could erupt any second, causing the immediate death of their unborn child, the pair were filled with anxiety and upset.

They also added that if Victoria had stayed at home that day, it’s likely she would have hemorrhaged and died.

Speaking to hosts Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid, Sid explained: “I called 999. When she spoke to the emergency services and explained about the amount of blood on the bed, they said it’s not a good sign.”

“It was real tough few days but we got through it.”

He also shared his joy at becoming a father, adding: “It’s amazing. I couldn’t stop looking at her for three or four days and crying.”

EastEnders airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk