Love has always been a driving force behind Coronation Street, but not all of the soap’s most memorable stories have unfolded on-screen. Over the years, many of its stars have found real romance behind the cameras, some leading to marriages and children, others ending in heartbreak or scandal.

Below, we look at the most talked-about relationships to ever bloom — or burn out — on the cobbles.

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Alan Halsall and Lucy-Jo Hudson: From Wedding Bells to a Public Breakup

Alan Halsall and Lucy-Jo Hudson met on set in 2002, when he played Tyrone Dobbs and she appeared as Katy Harris. Their friendship soon turned romantic. By 2009, they were married, and four years later, they welcomed their daughter, Sienna-Rae.

Fans were stunned when the couple announced their split in 2016, only to reconcile soon after. Sadly, the reunion was short-lived. They separated for good in 2018, and their breakup became increasingly bitter in the public eye.

Alan later began dating another Coronation Street co-star, Tisha Merry, though their romance ended in early 2024.

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Faye Brookes and Sam Robertson: A Brief Fling Amid Turmoil

In 2019, Faye Brookes reportedly grew close to her co-star Sam Robertson, who plays Adam Barlow, during a temporary split from her then-fiancé Gareth Gates. Sources suggested the two shared a short-lived “fling” while Faye sought comfort amid relationship struggles.

She ultimately reconciled with Gareth before ending things for good. Faye has since married Iwan Lewis, while Gareth moved on with Allana Taylor.

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Sue Cleaver and James Quinn: Love, Friendship, and the Stage

Before her marriage to ITV lighting technician Brian Owen, Sue Cleaver — best known as Eileen Grimshaw — was married to actor James Quinn from 1993 to 2003.

James appeared on Coronation Street multiple times over the years, portraying six different characters. Despite their divorce, Sue and James remained amicable, even appearing together in the stage production Marriages Made In Heaven in 2009.

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Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas: Young Love and Public Fallout

Tina O’Brien (Sarah Platt) and Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) were once one of the soap’s golden couples. They began dating in 2003 and welcomed their daughter Scarlett in 2008. But their love story ended just a year later when Ryan ended the relationship, leaving Tina heartbroken.

Tina later married Adam Crofts in 2018, though they split in 2024. Ryan has since built a new life with TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh, with whom he shares two children, Roman and Lilah Rae.

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Will Roache and Pat Phoenix: A Secret from the Early Days

Long before Coronation Street became a household name, its leading man Will Roache, who has portrayed Ken Barlow since 1960, shared a brief romance with co-star Pat Phoenix, famous for her fiery role as Elsie Tanner.

Will later admitted the two had a “one-off” encounter, describing it as something that simply “happened one night.” Their moment together has since become one of the most talked-about behind-the-scenes stories in soap history.

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Sue Nicholls and Mark Eden: A Love That Lasted

Sue Nicholls, who plays the beloved Audrey Roberts, found lasting love with her co-star Mark Eden. The two met in 1983, years before Mark joined Coronation Street as villain Alan Bradley.

They married in 1993 and remained devoted to one another until Mark’s death in 2021 following a battle with Alzheimer’s. Their enduring relationship remains one of the sweetest in Corrie history.

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The Cobble Effect: Love Beyond the Screen

Coronation Street has always mirrored real life — filled with passion, heartbreak, and second chances. For many of its stars, those same themes played out when the cameras stopped rolling. Whether fiery or tender, these romances prove that even in Weatherfield, love stories rarely run smoothly.