Many stars from the EastEnders have found love off-set, and the Daily Star looks at the couples who are no longer together after meeting on Albert Square.
EastEnders has introduced fans to some of the soap’s most famous couples, but did you know there have been real-life romances outside of Albert Square as well?
Loose Women’s Nadia Sawalha and heartthrob Marc Bannerman, as well as Phil Mitchell actor Steve McFadden and former EastEnders star Lucy Benjamin, have all found love over the years.
While some relationships have lasted a lifetime, others have sadly ended after only a few years.
The Daily Star examines real-life EastEnders couples who are no longer together.
Kara Tointon and Joe Swash
EastEnders
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner and actress Kara Tointon joined EastEnders in 2006 as Mickey Miller’s half sister, until the character was written out three years later.
Kara had relationships with two of her EastEnders co-stars during her time on the show, dating Martin Fowler actor James Alexandrou for 18 months in 2006.
Soon after, she began dating Joe Swash, with whom she spent over two years, even co-starring in a Snow White pantomime at the Bristol Hippodrome.
However, their relationship ended in 2010, leaving Kara devastated, as Joe revealed to The Sun: “She truly does everything correctly. It was entirely my fault that it broke down. I had no idea what I had until she was gone.”
Kara gave birth to her first child with fiancé Marius Jensen six years after their divorce, with the happy couple expecting their second child in 2021.
Meanwhile, Joe Swash is in a long-term relationship with Loose Women star Stacey Solomon, and fans congratulated them when they became parents to a baby girl in 2021. They also have a son named Rex.
Jacqueline Jossa and Tony Discipline
Former EastEnders stars Jacqueline Jossa and Tony Discipline fell in love on set in 2011, and dated for more than 18 months while working on the soap.
However, the couple divorced after Tony left the soap, and it is reported that he has now retired from acting and works as a firefighter.
Meanwhile, Jacqueline has moved away from Albert Square and the spotlight, as she is now married to Dan Osbourne.
The couple has two children, Ella and Mia, whom she frequently posts adorable photos of on Instagram.
Shona McGarty and Matt Lapinskas
Shona McGarty, who played Anthony Moon in the BBC soap, had a sweet romance with Matt Lapinskas, who played Whitney Carter.
They were together for over 18 months from 2011 to 2013, similar to co-stars Jacqueline Jossa and Tony Discipline, before splitting after Matt left EastEnders.
Matt later appeared on Dancing On Ice with professional dance partner Brianne Delcourt, with rumors that the two had become close.
Shona, on the other hand, addressed their split on social media, tweeting that his appearance on Dancing On Ice had nothing to do with their breakup.
In a tweet, she stated: “Thank you for your help, guys! Yes, Matt and I have broken up, but it has nothing to do with Brianne. New beginnings and a clear mind! xx Mwah”
Matt, it has been reported, has also left acting and now works in the construction industry.
Lucy Benjamin and Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden ran into ex-girlfriend Lucy Benjamin on the set of EastEnders after Lucy was cast as Lisa Fowler.
Lisa not only had a relationship with Phil at the time, but she was also the culprit in the famous Who Shot Phil Mitchell storyline.
Although the characters’ relationship was tense on-screen, Steve and Lucy’s love blossomed off-screen, with the couple dating for four years from 1999 to 2003.
Despite their divorce, Steve and Lucy remain close friends, with Lucy telling ITV daytime show Loose Women that she enjoyed working with him again during Lisa’s return to Albert Square in 2017.
“There’s a lot going on between Lisa and Phil. That was simple to play. “It was strange, but wonderful, to be working with Steve, Tish, and Natalie Cassidy again,” Lucy said.
“It was strange really, but it was like I’d never been away,” she added.
“It was like seeing old friends again, and I knew they’d look after me when I got back.”
Steve McFadden has five children and is married to girlfriend Karen Cairns outside of EastEnders.
Lucy Benjamin, meanwhile, has been married to businessman Richard Taggart since 2006.
Emma Barton and Joel Beckett
Joel Beckett, who played Jake Moon from 2004 to 2006, was another of the Moon brothers who had a real-life EastEnders romance.
His soap romance, however, began after he left the soap, when he dated Honey Mitchell star Emma Barton for over two years beginning in 2006.
Emma previously married lawyer Nigel Stoat, but the couple divorced in 2005, the same year she joined the soap.
The couple’s split was reported to be amicable, with Emma “making the most of being single,” according to The Mirror.
After their divorce, Emma went on to have a long-term relationship with TV personality Stephen Mulhern from 2009 to 2011, whom she met while working together on a pantomime.
Unfortunately, their romance did not last, with the couple keeping their split private, but Stephen later revealing to The Mirror that it had come to a “natural end.”
Nadia Sawalha and Marc Bannerman
Nadia Sawalha played Annie Palmer in EastEnders from 1997 to 1999, where she met and fell in love with co-star Marc Bannerman.
Marc played Gianni Di Marco on the soap from 1998 to 2000, and Nadia has spoken out about how he helped her after her husband Justin died in 1997.
Nadia Sawalha played Annie Palmer in EastEnders from 1997 to 1999, where she met and fell in love with co-star Marc Bannerman.
Marc played Gianni Di Marco on the soap from 1998 to 2000, and Nadia has spoken out about how he helped her after her husband Justin died in 1997.
