Former Emmerdale star confirms romance with Hollyoaks actress

Another real-life soap couple has been confirmed, as former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Anthony Quinlan has shared that he's in a relationship with current Hollyoaks actress Nikki Sanderson.

The pair have been friends for several years – although their Hollyoaks stints did not coincide – but Anthony has now revealed that their relationship became romantic last year.

Speaking to The Sun, Anthony said: "I've always fancied her. She's mega hot, right?"

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anthony quinlan as pete barton in emmerdale

ITV

Confirming that the pair already knew each other before getting together, he added: "We've known each other for years. There were rumours we met at the gym, which we had a bit of a laugh about.

"I slid into the DMs and that was it. I was lucky enough to get a date and the rest is history."

Although the actor, who now owns a plant-based supplements business, wouldn't be drawn on the details of their romance, he did confirm that he is "really, really happy" with their relationship, calling Nikki "a very special girl".

"She's lovely," he said. "I'm happy that it is what it is and we haven't got everyone prying. She's very supportive, in many respects.

nikki sanderson as maxine minniver in hollyoaks

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"She gets it because she's an actress and also in terms of the business because she's quite keen on health and fitness. She's mega. I can't say anymore – I'm just really happy."

As for whether the former soap star, who has also appeared in Doctors, would return to acting roles, he has confirmed that being in front of the camera is his "ultimate passion".

"Now I've got the option to pick and choose acting jobs when they come around," he explained. "I'm definitely not finished with acting."

anthony quinlan, british soap awards 2018

Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

Anthony is known for playing Gilly Roach in Hollyoaks between 2005 and 2011, before he moved over to Emmerdale to play Pete Barton between 2013 and 2020.

Nikki, meanwhile, previously played hairdresser Candice Stowe on Coronation Street between 1999 and 2005. She joined Hollyoaks as Maxine Minniver in 2012 and is still in the village, having been part of a number of high-profile storylines.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and streams on the ITV Hub.

Hollyoaks now streams first on All 4, with new episodes dropping each weekday morning. The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 6.30pm on Channel 4, and at 7pm on E4. Selected omnibus episodes are available via Amazon Prime Video.