Emmerdale fans swooned as Roxy Shahidi declared her love for her former co-star.
The soap actress has played Leyla Cavanagh in the ITV show since 2008. The 39-year-old arrived in the Yorkshire village to work at Eric Pollard's factory and soon struck up a relationship with David Metcalfe.
Leyla temporarily exited the programme in 2011, but returned two years later when her onscreen son, Jacob, tried to get back in touch with her. She has since been a mainstay in the soap and is now married to village doctor Liam Cavanagh.
READ MORE: The Chase fans fume as players 'robbed' of £52,000 moments before end of episode
Leyla has endured a turbulent time in the soap this year as she has battled addiction problems, but she is now trying to put the issues behind her after attending rehab. Away from the screen, Roxy shares updates from her exciting life with her 74,000 Instagram followers.
Roxy shares a close relationship with her fellow soap actors and has taken to the social media platform to issue a tribute to Sammy Winward. The actress is one of the show's most famous faces and is renowned for her role as Katie Sugden.
Sammy celebrated her 37th birthday this week and Roxy shared a snap of the two together alongside a gushing tribute. She said: "Happy birthday to this doll face @sammy_winward1 love ya."
Sammy replied in the comments as she said: "You’re the best. Love you to bits xxx" Sammy was aged just 15 years old when she joined the cast of the long-running soap back in 2001.
The character was introduced as Andy Sugden's love interest and the two started dating after they first met during school detention. Soap fans watched her journey to adulthood which included her eventual marriage to the character played by Kelvin Fletcher.
Sammy quit the soap in 2015 to pursue other career opportunities - and exited in dramatic style when she fell to her death following an argument with Robert Sugden. Away from the screen, Sammy was involved in a high profile romance with Premier League footballer David Dunn.
The couple started dating in the early 2000s and Sammy gave birth to a daughter named Mia in 2005. Sammy was engaged to the former Blackburn Rovers midfielder, but they split three months after she gave birth.
A source told the Daily Star at the time: "There was no-one else involved, they just grew apart. Having a baby is a stressful time for any couple and they've chosen to go their own ways.
"Things are tough - they aren't really talking to each other. But they're determined to get on with things for the sake of Mia. I'm sure after some water's gone under the bridge they'll stay friends, even if the spark has gone."
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
Married at First Sight Thomas Hartley's powerful message as he shows off transformation
Antiques Roadshow guest overwhelmed by staggering valuation of item 'tucked away' in loft
Asda shoppers warned as soup pulled from shelves
Emmerdale Faith Dingle actress Sally Dexter's exit date and how she wanted to leave
Bank holidays for 2022 and 2023 in UK confirmed - full list of dates
