BBC EastEnders' real life couples - soap siblings to 'strange' reunion after split

EastEnders has not only given us some of the most memorable on-screen couples but has also sparked off-screen romances amongst its stars.

Over the years, love has flourished behind the scenes for big names such as Loose Women panellist Nadia Sawalha as well as Phil Mitchell star Steve McFadden.

Thankfully, the soap stars' real-life romances are much simpler away from the drama-filled Albert Square. Unfortunately, none of these romantic liaisons stood the test of time and eventually fizzled out after a few years.

Here, Express.co.uk casts a spotlight on the actors who met on the set of EastEnders and became couples in real life.

Steve McFadden and Lucy Benjamin

Steve McFadden found romance with Lucy Benjamin when she joined the cast as Lisa Fowler in 1998.

Their time together saw Lisa engage in an on-screen romance with Phil, as well as being revealed as his shooter in the infamous Who Shot Phil Mitchell storyline.

While their characters endured a tumultuous relationship on the show, Steve and Lucy's off-screen romance flourished, with the pair dating for four years between 1999 and 2003.

Despite going their separate ways, the two have maintained a strong friendship, with Lucy sharing on ITV's Loose Women how much she relished working with Steve, 65, again when Lisa made a comeback to Albert Square in 2017.

"There is so much stuff between Lisa and Phil. It was easy to play that. It was strange really, but lovely to be working with Steve, Tish and Natalie Cassidy again," Lucy recounted.

She continued: "It was strange really but within 10 minutes it was like I'd never been away. It felt like reuniting with old friends and I knew they would take good care of me upon my return."

Outside of his role on EastEnders, Steve is a father to five children and shares his life with his partner Karen Cairns.

Lucy, 54, separated from businessman Richard Taggart in August 2023 after 17 years of marriage, with sources claiming at the time their relationship had "run its course".

They welcomed two daughters during their marriage.

Joe Swash and Kara Tointon

Actress and former Strictly Come Dancing champion Kara Tointon was introduced to EastEnders viewers in 2006 as the half-sister of Mickey Miller, played by Joe Swash, before her character exited the show three years later.

During her stint on the soap, Kara was romantically linked with two co-stars. She first dated Martin Fowler star James Alexandrou in 2006, with their relationship lasting for a year and a half.

Not long after their romance ended, she found love with Joe. The pair even shared the stage in a Snow White pantomime at the Bristol Hippodrome.

However, the couple went their separate ways in 2010, which left Kara, 41, heartbroken.

Joe, 42, opened up to The Sun about the breakup, admitting: "She genuinely does everything right. It was my fault it broke down. I didn't know what I had until she was gone."

After their split, Kara found love again with Marius Jensen and they welcomed their first child in 2018. Their second son was born in 2021 before they split the following year.

Meanwhile, Joe has been married to Loose Women star Stacey Solomon since 2022. The couple share three children; Rex, five, Rose, three and one-year-old Belle.

Jacqueline Jossa and Tony Discipline

Jacqueline Jossa and Tony Discipline met on the set of EastEnders in 2011 and began a relationship shortly after.

Their romance spanned over a year and a half while their characters Lauren Branning and Tyler Moon also embarked on a relationship.

However, their love story ended after Tony exited the show in 2013, with reports suggesting they "grew apart".

Jacqueline, 32, who reprised the role of Lauren in 2022, has been married to former TOWIE star Dan Osbourne since 2017.

The couple are parents to Ella, nine, and Mia, six, while Tony also has a daughter, born in 2021.

Nadia Sawalha and Marc Bannerman

Before becoming a familiar face on Loose Women, Nadia Sawalha graced EastEnders as Annie Palmer from 1997 to 1999, during which time she fell for her co-star Marc Bannerman.

Marc, 51, secured his status as one of the soap's heartthrobs with his portrayal of Gianni Di Marco from 1998 to 2000.

Nadia previously shared with OK! Magazine how pivotal he was in her life following the passing of her husband, Justin Mildwater, who took his own life in 1997, a few months after they split.

In a heartfelt confession she said: "If it wasn't for Marc I don't know what I'd have done."

Despite their close connection, their romance came to an end after three years. Nadia has been happily married to TV producer Mark Adderley since 2002 and the couple share two daughters.

Shona McGarty and Matt Lapinskas

Shona McGarty joined the cast of EastEnders in 2008 when she landed the role of Whitney Dean. The actress, 33, found love with Matt Lapinskas, who portrayed Anthony Moon.

Their love story mirrored that of co-stars Jacqueline Jossa and Tony Discipline, lasting over 18 months from 2011 to 2013 before ending following Matt's departure from the soap.

Matt later joined Dancing On Ice alongside professional dancer Brianne Delcourt, sparking rumours of a budding romance between the pair.

Shona took to social media to address the rumours surrounding their breakup, clarifying on Twitter that his stint on Dancing On Ice was not the cause of their split.

In her tweet, she expressed: "Thanks for support guys! Yes it's true Matt and I have split but it has nothing to do with Brianne. Clear head and new beginnings! Mwah xx."

Emma Barton and Joel Beckett

Joel Beckett, known for his portrayal of Jake Moon in EastEnders from 2004 to 2006, found love off-screen with Honey Mitchell star Emma Barton.

The couple met when Emma joined the soap in 2005, however, their romance didn't start until one year later. The pair reportedly dated for three years, but kept their romance private and out of the public eye.

After their romance ended, Emma entered into a long-term relationship with television presenter Stephen Mulhern after meeting in a pantomime production in 2009.

Unfortunately, their relationship came to an end in 2011, with both parties keeping the details private. Stephen later disclosed to The Mirror that the relationship had reached its "natural end".