Emmerdale Natalie J Robb was smitten while dating her soap co-star – but it turns out their relationship ended for a heartbreaking reason
Emmerdale’s Natalie J Robb once dated her soap co-star – but ended things after it got “too intense.”
The actress, 49, shot to fame playing Moira Dingle on the ITV soap – making her debut way back in 2009. And it didn’t take her long to become a firm favourite with viewers.
It’s fair to say Moira has had many ups and downs during her time on the soap too, including marrying into the Dingle clan and her beloved daughter overdosing on drugs. And of course the character’s countless steamy affairs.
What’s more, over in the famous village recently, Moira was given the life-changing news that she had a brain tumour, leaving her and her family devastated.
However, as for actor Natalie’s love life, it turns out, she previously dated one of her Emmerdale co-stars, with sparks flying behind the scenes.
In 2019, during an Emmerdale charity trip to Lapland, Natalie and co-star Jonny McPherson – who plays Dr Liam Cavanagh – began to develop feelings for one another. And in January 2020, the pair shared a kiss.
However, that same year, the country went into lockdown due to Covid-19. As a result, new couple Natalie and Jonny decided to move in together – something that Natalie later described as “too soon.”
Speaking about the early days of their romance with the Mirror in November 2020, Jonny revealed: “We had to make a decision as lots of couples did. We decided to move in together and so, yes, lockdown did fast forward our relationship.”
Jonny continued: “We get on so well. We come from quite different backgrounds but we are essentially the same person. We are both a pair of big kids. We have exactly the same stupid humour.” A source at the time told The Mirror: “Natalie has had her fair share of romps as Moira but this time she’s found love off-screen. Everyone is so happy for them.”
They added: “Lockdown gave them some quality time together and they couldn’t be happier. It’s still early days but Natalie can’t stop smiling.” Although Natalie and Jonny got through lockdown with “flying colours”, the pair called it quits in 2021. However, they are said to still be friends.
Meanwhile, in 2022, Natalie opened up about the end of her romance with Jonny. She told The Sun: “Unfortunately, it was Covid times, so there was this added pressure.
“He moved in with me during the first lockdown and it was just too intense, too soon. And if you’re not used to that, which I hadn’t been for a while, we realised pretty quickly that we were better off as friends.”
