We love it when our favourite soap stars get together in real life, especially when romance has blossomed on screen! The love story gets even better when they have children together – those cute little soap star babies, it's too much! We don't blame them… often handed scripts with steamy scenes and long-running relationships, it's no wonder these actors often end up hitching up in real life. From Emmerdale's Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden to Neighbours, Stefan Denis and Gail Easdale, meet the real-deal soap star parents…
Emmerdale: Charley Webb & Matthew Wolfenden
Emmerdale co-stars Charley and Matthew share three children together. Their son, Buster, was born in 2010 but the pair split a few years later in 2013, stating that they would remain amicable for the sake of their child. Reconciling the following year, in June 2015 it was revealed that they were expecting their second son, Bowie. In 2018 the pair tied the knot and in February 2019 they announced via Instagram that they were expecting "#Number3". Little boy Ace Gene arrived in July!
Coronation Street: Tina O’Brien & Ryan Thomas
They may have been on-screen lovers but Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas decided to take things off-screen too. The pair got together in 2003 and their daughter, Scarlett Jacqueline Thomas, was born in 2008. The couple parted ways in 2009 but have always appeared to remain on good terms - Tina even credited Ryan with helping encourage her to return to Coronation Street in 2014. The pair have since found new loves. Tina is also mum to son, Beau Lee Stephen, with husband Adam Crofts and Ryan Thomas is engaged to former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh. The pair are expecting a baby together.
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Coronation Street and Brookside: Jane Danson and Robert Beck
She plays Leanne Battersby on the cobbles and in real life Jane Danson is married to former Brookside actor Robert Beck. The happy couple married in 2005 and have two children, Harry and Sam.
Hollyoaks and Coronation Street: Sophie Austin and Shayne Ward
These two are so cute! Former X Factor star and now Corrie actor Shayne got together with former Hollyoaks star Sophie and the pair share a daughter together, Willow May. They are engaged to be married.
Emmerdale: Joanne Mitchell and Dominic Brunt
Dominic met his future Emmerdale co-star and wife, Joanne at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. The two would go on to marry in 2003 and have two children together – sons named Mickey-Joe and Danny-Lee.
Coronation Street: Jennifer James and Lee Boardman
Jennifer and Lee first met on the set of Coronation Street in 2000 while they were playing Geena Gregory and Jez Quigley. They married in 2001 and have two children together, Jack and Scarlett.
Emmerdale: Jeff Hordley & Zoe Henry
Now this is sweet - Emmerdale co-stars, Jeff Hodley and Zoe Henry are actually college sweethearts but both work on the show. They married in 2003 and are parents to daughter Violet, born in 2005, and a son called Stan, born in April 2008. The family currently lives in West Yorkshire.
MORE: EastEnders real-life romances: 7 couples who found love in Albert Square
Coronation Street: Kym Marsh & Jamie Lomas
Coronation Street's Kym Marsh and Jamie Lomas started dating in 2008 and had a baby together the following year. Tragically their newborn son, Archie Jay Lomas, was born 18 weeks early and passed away moments after birth. Three years later, the couple welcomed their daughter, Polly, and a year later they married in Cheshire. In 2013, the couple announced their separation, with Kym citing "unreasonable behaviour" and their divorce was finalised the year after that. Kym is also mum to Emilie and David Cunliffe Jr. Jamie also has a son named Billy from a previous relationship.
Coronation Street: Lucy-Jo Hudson & Alan Halsall
Lucy-Jo Hudson and Alan Halsall met on the cobbles of Coronation Street in 2005 and were married in 2009. In 2013, Lucy-Jo gave birth to their daughter, Sienna-Rae but in 2016 announced they were to part ways. Rekindling their romance a few weeks later, they confirmed they were in divorce proceedings in 2018.
Neighbours: Stefan Denis & Gail Easdale
Despite being Neighbours co-stars, this isn't actually how Stefan Denis and Gail Easdale met. They were actually married before Gail was offered the role. Talking of joining the cast that her hubby was already a part of, she previously said: “It was nerve-wracking. A lot of people presumed I was there to have lunch with my husband. All of a sudden, I am in the makeup chair and they are looking at me saying, ‘Are you going out somewhere?’ The couple have been married since 2000 and share children, Cameron, Declan and Darcy.