Coronation Street has had it’s fair share of drama off-screen as well as on-screen

Coronation Street has long been a staple on ITV, captivating families for generations with its array of endearing characters.

It’s not just the audience who have found themselves smitten with stars of the show, behind the scenes sparks have flown among the cast and crew, leading to real-life romances away from the Weatherfield set. The iconic soap has often been the backdrop for more than just its gripping storylines, as whispers of secret liaisons between co-stars have emerged over time.

Numerous actors, whose tenures span decades, have admitted to dating their colleagues, whether during their time on the show or after their departures, reports Lancs Live. Let’s take a closer look at some of these romantic connections.

Secret co-star fling

Alison had a five year fling with a co-star(Image: ITV)

Alison King, known for her role as Carla Connor, was once romantically linked to Philip Middlemiss, who portrayed Des Barnes. Their relationship lasted five years following a serendipitous encounter in a Tenerife bar back in 1995.

Philip was head over heels, confessing to the Scottish Daily Record in 1996: “I’ve never been happier. She is a wonderful girl. I love her to death.” However, by 2000, the couple had called it quits, citing the challenges of working away and demanding schedules as reasons for their separation.

In a candid conversation, Phillip shared his heartfelt emotions: “I was in love with Allie. She’s the only person I’ve ever really loved. But she was working in London and I was in Manchester. In another life, if I had been a bus driver and she had worked at the local baker’s shop, we would have got married and had kids by now.”

Love triangle

Tina dated Ryan’s on-screen brother in real life before they were romantically linked off-screen(Image: ITV)

On the cobbles, Tina’s character Sarah found herself entangled in a love triangle, initially dating Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) before he revealed he was gay, leading her to tie the knot with his brother Jason (Ryan Thomas). This on-screen drama oddly mirrored real-life events.

Off-screen, Tina and Bruno Langley were an item for a year until she declared things had become quite serious with Ryan in 2003. The revelation of her relationship with Ryan was a concern for Tina, as she worried about potential awkwardness on set due to their mutual connection with Bruno.

Speaking to The Mirror in 2007, Tina opened up: “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 eventually left her role on Coronation Street to embrace motherhood with daughter Scarlett, whom she shares with Ryan. However, the couple parted ways just a year after Scarlett’s birth.

“He said he didn’t love me anymore,” Tina disclosed in an emotional interview with new! magazine, recounting how she pleaded with Ryan to reconsider. Everything turned out for the best in the long run. Ryan now has son Roman and daughter Lilah with his former TOWIE star fiancee, Lucy Mecklenburgh, while Tina has found happiness with her husband Adam Crofts, with whom she shares eight year old son Beau.

A near-miss on their first date

Sue admitted she always fancied Mark(Image: PA)

Sue Nicholls has never been shy to share that sparks flew when she met co-star Mark Eden – who happened to portray one of the most notorious bad guys in soap history – it was instant chemistry. They crossed paths at a fashion party, while Mark was in the midst of separating from his second wife. Sue was smitten right away.

Recalling the moment they met, Sue revealed to The Liverpool Echo: “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.”

She then opened up about their hair-raising first date: “The first time we went out I nearly crashed the car, he made me laugh so much. I had to swerve into the verge,” the actress confessed: “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.”

The Corrie stars said “I do” in 1993, which was two years after Mark’s alter-ego met his end at the hands of a tram in Blackpool. They lived a joyous marriage up until Mark’s heartbreaking passing on New Year’s Day, 2021, having battled Alzheimer’s and being hospitalised in the prior year.

Difficult split away from soap

Rob and Daniel parted ways in the end

Soap actors Daniel Brocklebank and Rob Mallard were once a couple off the set. Rob, who portrays Daniel Osbourne on Corrie, publicly came out in a 2017 interview with Gay Times. In 2016, he began dating his co-star Daniel, who played Vicar Billy Mayhew on the soap. After hitting it off, they soon made their relationship public.

However, just a few months after a heartfelt Instagram post showing them attending the Soap Awards together, they split up in 2019, citing work pressures as the reason for their breakup, according to the Mirror. A year later, Rob confirmed to the same outlet that their romance had reached a “natural end”.

Wedding postponed

Sally and Joe had a run of bad luck(Image: Sally Carman Instagram)

Sally Carman and Joe Duttine experienced a series of unfortunate events during the Covid-19 pandemic. The couple was looking forward to saying “I do” but had to delay their plans due to the lockdown.

The pair, who portray Abu Franklin and Tim Metcalfe on the ITV soap, were initially disheartened that the ceremony they had saved and waited for had to be postponed. However, there was a happy ending, as they eventually tied the knot in a grand setting, surrounded by loved ones in 2022.

Coronation Street is on ITV at 8pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and available to stream from 7am on ITVX