We have rounded up soap couples who enjoy life with each other away from the screen
One of the main reasons soap’s remain as some of the most watched programmes on TV are the explosive storylines and drama they offer. With scandal, murders, adultery and other major events rocking the fictional villages and streets, there is always something gripping to watch.
Relationships are a huge part of all soap’s and this isn’t only on-screen but also off-screen too. Many actors and actresses have ended up in relationships in the real world and are married with children.
Some of the soap stars who live together when the cameras are off don’t have regular scenes together on the show and some didn’t even meet on the show.
Thankfully, their relationships off-screen are not be as dramatic as the storylines soap character’s are often embroiled in. We have rounded up eight couples who have worked together and are now dating from Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
Amy Walsh and Toby-Alexander Smith
Actress Amy Walsh and Toby-Alexander Smith got married in a stunning ceremony in Montenegro watched by 100 of their closest friends and family, in 2023. The couple first met back in 2019, after a chance encounter in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing, before getting together a year later.
Amy plays the role of Tracy Metcalfe on ITV soap Emmerdale while fans may know Toby from his stint on EastEnders as Gray Atkins from 2019-2022. In September 2020, the storyline of domestic abuse ended with Gray murdering partner Chantelle.
Amy Walsh and Toby-Alexander Smith have a daughter named Bonnie-Mae, who was born in December 2021. The couple live in East London.
Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry
Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry star in Emmerdale together. The couple have been married since 2003 and have been in a relationship for over thirty years. They have two children together.
Zoe, who is 50-years-old, has been in the Yorkshire-based soap since 2000 as Rhona Goskirk. Zoe first met Jeff in college which sparked the beginning of their relationship. Jeff has played Cain Dingle on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale for over 25 years.
The pair live together in a quaint cottage in the Yorkshire Dales with their children and pets. They also reportedly grow their own produce on their huge allotment. They share a daughter named Violet and a son named Stan. Violet was born in 2005 and Stan was born in 2008.
Chris Chittell and Lesley Dunlop
TV stars Chris Chittell and Lesley Dunlop are renowned for their roles as Eric Pollard and Brenda Walker in Emmerdale. Away from the cameras, Chris and Lesley have been married since June 18, 2016. Their love story began on the set of Emmerdale, leading to their engagement in 2015 and marriage the next year.
Their nuptials were a private event, attended by close family and friends. Both have children from previous relationships. Chris was formerly married to Caroline Hunt for 26 years before they separated in 2005, while Lesley has two daughters from a past relationship.
Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “It was weird. Somehow, we’d never met before, and we just kept bumping into each other at work. I can’t even remember if I asked her for a date or she asked me but she is wonderful and we’re very happy.”
Joe Duttine and Sally Carman
Sally regularly shares updates with her Coronation Street co-star husband, Joe Duttine. He plays Tim Metcalfe in the show and previously told the ECHO how they keep their work and personal lives separate. She has been married to Joe since July 15, 2022. She was previously married to Ryan Pope.
Actress Sally Carman plays Abi Webster, she has been on the show since 2017 and has also appeared in other shows, including Doctors, Heartbeat, Holby City, Shameless, and A is for Acid.
Husband Joe said: “When we go places it can be a bit odd because people say it’s them two on Corrie and that can be a bit strange. But we tend to not really talk about work at home. Joe and Sally’s characters lead separate lives onscreen and the actor told the ECHO he hopes it stays that way. He said :”We’ve sort of said hello every now and then.”
Dominic Brunt and Joanna Mitchell
Emmerdale viewers were recently surprised to find out that Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy Kirk on the ITV soap, is married to another cast member. Dominic has played the role of Paddy since 1997. His character Paddy has been at the centre of several gripping storylines over the years, from shocking affairs to the devastating loss of a child. Off-screen Dominic is married to actress Joanne Mitchell.
Joanne has had several roles on both Emmerdale and Coronation Street. The two met while studying drama in Bristol and tied the knot in 2003. They are now parents to two sons, Mickey-Joe and Danny Lee. Joanne currently plays the role of Sandra Flaherty, mum and step-mum to Liv Flaherty (Izzy Steel) and Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) respectively.
Joanne has featured in award-winning shows and spoke to Inside Soap in 2022 about her experience working on the same show as her husband Dominic: “I haven’t seen Dominic at the studios yet since I’ve been back this time. It’s fun to be on the same show but I’ve not actually worked with him yet. We haven’t had any scenes together as our characters live separate lives in the village.” surreal time being pulled in SUPER last minute to step in as a Policeman to arrest Cassie Plummer.
Jane Danson and Robert Beck
Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Battersby, has been a fixture on the cobbles since 1997, arriving with the rest of the Battersby family, including sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor). Off-screen, Jane is married to fellow soap actor Robert Beck, who has appeared in shows like Brookside, Emmerdale, and Waterloo Road.
He even had a stint on Coronation Street in 2008, playing criminal Jimmy Dockerson, and portrayed villain Damon ‘Harry’ Harris in Emmerdale in 1999. Jane and Robert met in 1999 and got married in 2005 and they are parents to two children, Harry, born in July 2006, and Sam, born in February 2009.
During a heartfelt conversation with OK! Magazine, Jane opened up about her enduring relationship with Robert, revealing: “Me and my husband have been together for 22 years, and we’re really good friends as well as loving each other lots.”
Laura Norton and Mark Jordan
Mark married actress Siobhan Finneran in 1997, they divorced in 2014. They have two children together. He is now in a relationship with former Emmerdale co-star Laura Norton. Laura plays the role of Kerry Wyatt on the show and Mark joined the cast of Emmerdale in August 2017 as Daz Spencer, he remained a regular until his character was written out in January 2019.
On 24 August 2020, it was announced that the couple were expecting their first child. On 29 January 2021, Laura gave birth to a son named Jesse. In November 2022, she gave birth to their daughter Ronnie.
Their young son and daughter will eventually become blind and deaf because of a rare genetic condition known as Usher syndrome. Presently incurable, it is present from birth and can range in severity, with symptoms typically emerging during adolescence. Laura has previously said: “They’re living their little lives and they have no idea what’s coming. That’s really hard sometimes.”