Bitter soap splits that went nuclear… baseball bat attack on car to star who dumped Michelle Keegan over steamy scenes
SOAPLAND is packed with love and passion – so it’s no surprise that many stars have found themselves falling for each other in real life.
But just like on screen, it’s not always a fairytale ending.
This week, Emmerdale’s Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden announced their split after five years of marriage.
The couple, who are parents to Buster, 13, Bowie, eight, and Ace, four, said in a statement: “We remain friends and our priority is the love for our children. For their sake we would appreciate privacy at this time.”
While Charley, 35, and Matthew, 43, have insisted they’re still civil, that hasn’t been the case for all soap couples.
Here, we take a look at the bitter splits that went from bad to worse…
Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas
Tina O’Brien and Ryan Thomas played lovebirds Sarah-Louise Platt and Jason Grimshaw on Coronation Street – and life imitated art when they struck up a romance off screen in 2003.
It was a fiery relationship from the get-go, with Tina admitting they “were always arguing”.
The 40-year old previously said: “I have a really bad temper and we had big fall-outs.
“We had a massive row once at his place when he had the builders in. They must have thought I was mental because I was screaming at the top of my lungs at him, ‘Why don’t you eff off.’
“I don’t even know what we argued about. It was always over the smallest of things. We never split up but I did occasionally say, ‘That’s it, I’m never speaking to you again!’”
It was Ryan, 39, who called things off in 2009, a year after welcoming their daughter Scarlett – leaving Tina heartbroken.
She said: “He said he didn’t love me any more.
“He said I didn’t do it for him any more. Those were his words. I was absolutely devastated. He said he didn’t want the responsibility of a relationship with me.”
Despite their shock split, the pair still managed to remain amicable.
Tina moved on with Adam Crofts, 38, and the pair welcomed their son Beau in 2014.
Ryan even attended their wedding in 2018 and gushed: “Adam is cool, he’s just a lovely guy. As a stepfather in Scarlett’s life, I’ve hit the jackpot. She adores him.”
Meanwhile, Ryan has moved on with former TOWIE star Lucy Mecklenburgh, 32, and the pair are parents to son Roman, three, and one-year-old daughter Lilah.
However, things have turned sour in more recent times.
Last year, Tina was accused of smashing Ryan’s car with a baseball bat after a furious late-night row.
Allegedly causing around £1,000 worth of damage, the actress is said to have broken a wing mirror and damaged paintwork on Ryan’s Range Rover after she partied at a pal’s house.
And in September, Tina appeared to reignite their feud once again when she shared a cryptic quote about “tyrannical narcissistic fathers”.
The now-deleted Instagram post read: “The tyrannical narcissistic father is a bully – a cruel, lying arrogant person. He is a tyrant that is totally entrenched in his grandiose world and insistent that everyone follow his commands.
“He is emotionally abusive and can cause significant emotional damage to all family members. Unfortunately, his behaviours cause the relationships within a family to be toxic and can cause lifelong wounds.”
She added in her own words: “Thankfully not my dad… but a dad that I know very well… deeply resonates.”
Alan Halsall and Lucy-Jo Hudson
Alan Halsall and Lucy-Jo Hudson first met on the set of Corrie in 2002 and tied the knot seven years later.
Alan, 41, who plays Tyrone Dobbs on the ITV soap, and Lucy-Jo, 40, who played Katy Harris, went on to welcome their daughter Sienna-Rae in 2013, but things started to go downhill just years later.
In 2016, they briefly ended their marriage before rekindling six weeks later.
But it wasn’t to be and they announced their split in 2018.
A source told The Sun: “It’s very amicable but they’ve decided to go their separate ways.
“Alan’s been joking that he’s having a mid-life crisis and he went and treated himself to a brand new car five days ago. It’s a difficult time for both of them.
“They’re devastated the marriage is over but have vowed to stay friends. They still really care for each other.”
Discussing their co-parenting set-up, Lucy-Jo previously said that they “speak every day”, with Alan even popping round to hers for a brew.
Sadly, things took a bitter turn after Lucy-Jo’s boyfriend Lewis Divine celebrated the birth of their son Carter in 2020.
Sharing an Instagram snap, Lewis, 35, wrote alongside: “Our Sienna is delighted and is already making the best big sister, just like I knew she would!”
Alan, who is now dating ex Corrie actress Tisha Merry, 30, furiously hit back: “You’re welcome to keep the lying cheating one & call her your own! But not my daughter.”
In response, Lucy-Jo told OK! Magazine: “I had literally just given birth to Carter when he posted that so I didn’t see it and my head was elsewhere. He quickly deleted it so he must have regretted it.
“I didn’t bother bringing it up with him. Lew and I were both too focused on Carter so it just didn’t get our attention.”
Alan later revealed: “There’s always going to be ups and downs with a blended family.
“So long as Sienna comes first in all of it, that’s all that matters. Sienna’s got her mum and her dad, and she’s also got Lewis and Tisha.
“It’s just a case that everybody loves her. Of course there will be differences of opinion. So long as we’re in that loving way when Sienna is around.”
He added: “We don’t have a great deal of communication, it’s only ever about Sienna, and that’s all it ever needs to be.”
Jamie Lomas and Kym Marsh
Jamie Lomas and Kym Marsh’s love story had the ups and downs of a dramatic soap storyline before its bitter end in 2013.
The couple first began dating in 2009 following Kym’s divorce from former EastEnders star Jack Ryder.
A year later, they announced they were expecting their first child together. But tragically, son Archie died at 21 weeks old just minutes after being born. They then went on to welcome daughter Polly in 2011.
However, their relationship hit the rocks in April 2012 after Jamie, 48, was pictured in bed with another woman after a night out.
The woman claimed they shared a kiss, something Jamie denied, and he and Kym, 47, moved passed it.
They tied the knot in September 2012, but just a year into their marriage, Kym allegedly had a fling with her Corrie co-star Oliver Mellor, 42.
After discovering the cheating claims, Jamie allegedly flew into a drunken rage – which resulted in Kym calling the police.
Their divorced was finalised in January 2014, with Kym revealing just minutes later that she was having “THE best morning”.
Kym went on to marry army major Scott Ratcliff, 34, in October 2021, but they split 18 months later.
Meanwhile, Jamie is engaged to his dentist girlfriend Jess Bell, 34.
Michelle Keegan and Anthony Quinlan
Before settling down with husband Mark Wright, Michelle Keegan dated actor Anthony Quinlan – and it didn’t end well.
The pair are thought to have dated for two years between 2006 and 2008, when Michelle played Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street and Anthony played Gilly Roach on Hollyoaks.
Anthony, 39, reportedly dumped Michelle, 36, after her steamy scenes with co-star Jack P Shepherd were too much for him to handle, according to the Mirror.
It came just days after David Platt actor Jack, 25, split from his long-term girlfriend Lauren Sheppey.
Michelle tied the knot to former TOWIE star Mark, 36, in 2015, while Anthony is now dating Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson, 39.
Danny Miller and Kirsty-Leigh Porter
Danny Miller and Kirsty-Leigh Porter’s relationship became turbulent not long after getting together in 2010.
Danny, who plays Aaron Livesy on Emmerdale, first met Kirsty, who played Leela Lomax on Hollyoaks, on the set of Emmerdale.
They split in 2011 after rumours that Danny had been unfaithful.
After quickly reuniting, they ended things again in 2012 when Danny was accused of lewd behaviour towards women in nightclubs.
They got back together for a second time and moved in together.
But it all came to an end in 2016 when Kirsty, 34, discovered Danny, 32, had allegedly bedded a prostitute on a drunken night out – said to be the final straw for her.
On top of that, Kirsty also found out that Danny had reportedly been having a fling with his Emmerdale co-star Isabel Hodgins, 30, behind her back.
She’s believed to have found messages between Danny and Isabel, who was dating their mutual co-star Michael Parr, 37, at the time.
Danny is now married to childhood sweetheart Steph Jones, 40, and the couple are parents to 22-month-old son Albert.
Kirsty is mum to two-year-old daughter Nala Rai with partner Paul Barber.
Ricky Groves and Hannah Waterman
EastEnders actor Ricky Groves was left devastated when wife Hannah Waterman suddenly walked out on him.
The pair had tied the knot in 2006 after falling for each other on set of the BBC soap. But four years later, it was all over.
On New Year’s Eve in 2010, Hannah, who played Laura Beale, dropped the bombshell that she had an affair and was leaving him.
The 48-year-old actress moved on with Huw Higginson, 59, who she married last year. The couple are parents to 12-year-old son Jack and now live in Australia.
After finding out about Hannah’s pregnancy, Ricky, 55, known for playing Garry Hobbs, shared his heartbreak.
He said: “It hurts because it could have been me. Before we split up Hannah and I were trying to get pregnant because we wanted a family.”
Ricky and Hannah finally divorced in 2014, but the actor previously claimed Hannah was delaying things.
He said: “I can’t understand it. After all, it was her idea to end our marriage.
“Every time I’ve rung her the phone has been on but she’s not answered. I’ve left messages, sent texts but got no reply.
“You would have thought she would be keen to get a divorce, especially now she’s had a baby.”
Georgia May Foote and Sean Ward
Coronation Street actors Georgia May Foote and Sean Ward called time on their eight month romance in 2015 after she appeared on Strictly Come Dancing.
Georgia soon began dating her professional dance partner Giovanni Pernice, 33, but they split less than a year later and she found love again with model George Alsford.
However, when Georgia and George broke up in 2018, Our Girl actor Sean was quick to make a sly dig at his ex – resulting in a bitter spat.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Sean, 35, wrote: “Karma’s a patient b***h” alongside a laughing cry emoji.
Georgia, 32, then hit back, saying: “Karma ain’t a b**** to people who do nothing wrong.
“Guilt makes people do/say funny things doesn’t it.
“I always have to keep my mouth shut and I’m the one who gets the s***.
“Say what you want cuz I really don’t care what you all think. I know everything about MY life.”
Georgia, who married musician Kris Evans, 33, in July, previously blasted her past relationships as the “actual worst”.