Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Kyle O'Sullivan & Kate Lally

Coronation Street stars' real life romances from bitter splits to wedding plans

Coronation Street has had many iconic couples over the years, and sometimes the romance spills out into real life.

A number of relationships have been formed between cobbles castmates, with some surprising pairings considering the characters they play. Throughout the years, Corrie stars have fallen in love off screen with some couples even going on to have children together.

Some have had adorable babies and heard wedding bells.

READ MORE: Coronation Street's Georgia Taylor cosies up to co-star as they appear to confirm romance

Others did not see their relationships last, with many going on to find love elsewhere. Here, we take a look at some of the real-life Coronation Street couples.

Tina O'Brien and Bruno Langley

Tina and Bruno as Sarah and Todd (Granada TV)

When she was 17, Tina's chemistry with Bruno Langley, who played her character's boyfriend Todd, spilled into real life and they had a one-year romance, the Mirror reports.

Storylines saw Todd rush Sarah into getting engaged and pregnant before confessing that he was gay. Todd had been having an affair with nurse Karl Foster.

The stress caused Sarah to go into premature labour and their son Billy died after three days.

Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas

Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas in 2004 (Tom O'Donnell/FilmMagic)

After her relationship with Bruno came to a natural end, Tina started dating his on-screen brother Ryan Thomas, which required them to carefully manage their feelings.

Tina 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."

Life imitated art, as Ryan's character Jason became Sarah's boyfriend in the show. Tina and Ryan were one of the soap's longest-lasting off-screen romances, with their relationship running from 2003 to 2009.

They welcomed a daughter, Scarlett, in 2008 but they split before she turned one. Tina told new! magazine: "He said he didn't love me any more", admitting they had struggled with the new dynamic of parenthood.

Tina has since found love with Adam Crofts, marrying him in 2018, while Ryan is now dating TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh after meeting her on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls in 2017.

Ryan and Lucy welcomed son Roman in 2020 after getting engaged in Italy in 2019. Their second child, daughter Lilah Rae, was born in May 2022.

Sue Nicholls and Mark Eden

Coronation Street legend Sue Nicholls fell in love with 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, who was killed by a tram in Blackpool. It was a rather romantic beginning as the couple met under a cherry tree at a party in 1983 and became closer when Mark also worked on the cobbles between 1986 and 1989.

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

Speaking in 2000, she said: "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."

Sadly, Mark died on New Year's Day in 2021, following a battle with Alzheimer's and being hospitalised in November 2020.

Rob Mallard and Daniel Brocklebank

Rob Mallard and Daniel Brocklebank confirmed their romance back in 2017. Corrie fans were pleasantly surprised when the Daniel Osbourne actor started a relationship with the Billy Mayhew star.

The pair seemed smitten when Rob said his other half was "the best thing I've taken home this year" while picking up the Best Newcomer gong at the British Soap Awards in 2017. They both looked very dashing while making their red carpet debut together at the British LGBT awards, but sadly their relationship came to an end after a few months.

Sally Carman and Joe Duttine

Sally Carman and Joe Duttine as Abi and Tim on Corrie (ITV)

Sally Carman struck up a romance with Joe Duttine on set back in 2018, with their castmates thinking it was a match made in heaven.

It wouldn't go down well on the cobbles though, as Joe's character, Tim Metcalfe, is married to Sally Webster, who is best friends with Abi Franklin, played by Sally Carman. They moved in the following year and got engaged in March 2020.

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly in 2021, Sally opened up about how they first became close to one another and admitted it was a slow burner. She said: "We were friends for a while but then we started sharing puddings and I thought maybe something is on the boil."

The couple were due to get married in 2021, but unfortunately were forced to postpone for another year because of the covid pandemic. They finally had their big day in July 2022, surrounded by their nearest and dearest in a lavish ceremony.

Alan Halsall and Tisha Merry

Alan Halsall and Tisha Merry at their home in April 2020 (Alan Halsall/Instagram)

Real life Coronation Street couple Tisha Merry and Alan Halsall have been together since 2018. Tyrone Dobbs actor Alan, 40, and Tisha, 29, who played Steph Britton in the ITV soap, took their relationship to the next level when they moved in together in late 2019.

Alan has one daughter Sienna, 9, with his ex Lucy-Jo Hudson. Lucy was also a cobbles star, playing Katy Harris from 2002 to 2005.

Georgia Taylor and Charlie de Melo

Charlie de Melo and Georgia Taylor (Georgia Taylor/Instagram)

Toyah Habeeb star Georgia Taylor has appeared to confirm her romance with her former on-screen husband as they enjoyed a trip away this week.

Georgia and Imran, played by Charlie de Melo, were happily married until Imran died in a car crash. Toyah was behind the wheel and has since been cleared of murder as she aims to move on from the ordeal.

In celebration of Georgia's 43rd birthday last week, the two visited Edinburgh, where they cosied up for snaps as they took in the sights and enjoyed dinner dates. Fans flooded the comments and praised the two as they seemed to confirm their offscreen romance.

Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here

READ NEXT:

Emmerdale Sammy Winward declares love for former co-star on special day

Loose Women's Andrea McLean bedridden with illness as fans rush to support her

Tesco shoppers adore 'super flattering' F&F Clothing cream dress worn by Frankie Bridge on Instagram

Iceland fans say £2.50 frozen chips are 'best they've ever tasted'

Warning issued to any driver in the UK filling up with diesel this month

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.