After finally going public with their romance over the weekend, pals have revealed how Alan Halsall and Tisha Merry kept their relationship a secret for so long
The actors met while both working on Coronation Street, before Tisha Merry left her role as Steph Britton in 2017 to focus on other acting projects.
After splitting from his wife, fellow Corrie star Lucy-Jo Hudson in 2018, rumours began swirling that Alan was dating Tisha after the pair began posting pictures of them hanging out togetherat social events with other pals.
But after they went Instagram official with a loved-up snap at a friend’s wedding, friends are relieved that they’re no longer having to keep schtum.
CHECK OUT Coronation Street spoilers: Steve McDonald in ARMED ROBBERY
Coronation Street spoilers: week 20 SLIDER
Coronation Street spoilers
Roy returns from his trip to Portsmouth to find Carla missing and Peter in turmoil. He's filled in by the Connor family, and is wracked with guilt for kicking Carla out.
Coronation Street spoilers
Roy and Graham visit the hostel where a sighting of Carla was last reported but the room is empty and they find her abandoned kidney medication. As Roy laments his actions, Carla listens from the shadows.
Coronation Street spoilers
Arriving back at the flat, Roy is shocked to find Carla waiting for him. He begins to realise the severity of Carla's illness when she tells him that Kate is hiding Rana, but telling everyone she's dead.
Coronation Street spoilers
Carla begs Roy not to tell anyone he's seen her – but Roy knows he has to do what's best for her and makes a call to have Carla admitted to hospital.
Coronation Street spoilers
Waking up from her sedation, Carla is shocked to find herself in hospital and Roy and Johnny at her bedside.
Coronation Street spoilers
Carla is furious that Roy has betrayed her trust and recoils from both of them, demanding to see Peter.
Coronation Street spoilers
When Roy passes on the message that Carla has been found and wants to see Peter, Ken refuses to tell him, saying that Peter needs to focus on his own mental health.
Coronation Street spoilers
On Carla's request the doctors get in touch with Peter, and tell him that she's being put on anti-psychotic medication and being sent home.
Coronation Street spoilers
Determined to stand by her, Peter tells Ken he's her moving into number 1. When Ken refuses, Carla and Peter move back into Roy's house, and Ken offers his spare room to Roy.
Coronation Street spoilers
Elsewhere on the cobbles, Steve finally admits to Tracy that they're skint, as they're struggling to compete with a new taxi company, GoLucky, which uses a newfangled app.
Coronation Street spoilers
Tim introduces Steve to a tech whizkid named Jay, who promises he can make them an app that will blow GoLucky out of the water. The catch? It will cost £20k.
Coronation Street spoilers
Tracy is horrified when Steve suggests they use the house deposit they've saved to pay for the app development, and tells him to get out and do some illegal roadside pickups to earn some extra cash.
Coronation Street spoilers
Steve does as he's told, picking up a young lad who tells him he's on his way to visit his mum in hospital.
Coronation Street spoilers
But when the lad asks Steve to pull over at a garage so he can buy some flowers, things take a nasty turn when Steve finds himself in the middle of an armed robbery!
Coronation Street spoilers
Desperate to get away from the situation, Steve pleads with the robber, showing him pictures of Amy and Oliver. Is it enough to get away unharmed?
Coronation Street spoilers
Nick finds himself in even deeper waters when the police call him in for more question. He and David panic, aware that if the police go through they're accounts they'll wonder about the huge sum of money. Nick asks Paula for help.
Coronation Street spoilers
Continuing in her of event organising for the Rovers, Emma puts on a talent show at the pub which turns out to be a roaring success.
Coronation Street spoilers
Everyone is impressed with Evelyn's painting, having created a stunningly lifelike portrait of Brian.
Coronation Street spoilers
Geoff is disheartened when Yasmeen refuses to be his assistant for his Lady in a Box act, explaining she'll be working.
Coronation Street spoilers
But host Emma, who's a big fan of Paul Daniels, steps in at the last minute and Goeff's act goes down a storm.
Coronation Street spoilers
With the bar already set so high, Bethany cringes when Kirk takes to the stage to perform his self-penned song about life as a packer.
Coronation Street spoilers
On a high from his performance, Kirk catches the eye of a talent scout who tells him she wants to sign him up for a six week tour.
Coronation Street spoilers
Suspicious of their motives, Beth studies the business card and realises they're comedy scouts. Bethany tells a heartbroken Kirk they're only inviting him on the tour to laugh at him.
Coronation Street spoilers
But Kirk is defiant, and after a chat with Abi tells Beth that he's going ahead with the tour – as long as his songs put a smile on peoples' faces, that's al that matters.
Coronation Street spoilers
When Seb hears that Alina has started working in a different nail salon, he tracks it down to go and visit her.
Coronation Street spoilers
Clearly happy to see him, the pair catch up and the chemistry crackles, but Alina worries her boss Rachel will catch them and tell her off.
Coronation Street spoilers
Seb offers to do some handy work around the salon to give him a reason to hang around, but soon Rachel is tired of his loitering and tells him he's not welcome there any more.
Coronation Street spoilers
Later on Alina calls in at number 11 and apologises for Rachel's behaviour, but explains she's lucky to have her as she gives her a job and somewhere to live.
Coronation Street spoilers
Seb tells Alina that he doesn't like the way that Rachel treats her, and promises to look after from now on. Touched, Alina leans in for a kiss.
Coronation Street spoilers
Tentatively, Seb invites Alina to stay the night. He's thrilled when she agrees, but says there's some things she needs to sort out first and will be back at 10.30...
WATCH: Alan Fletcher AKA Dr Kirk Kennedy reveals the Neighbours secrets you HAVE to know
Popping up on Tisha’s tagged photos, a friend appeared to imply she’d been banned from posting any pictures of the couple together when she tagged the photo, “I’ll no longer get bollocked for posting this! never seen my beauty so happy. Makes my eyes leak.”
READ MORE soap news and spoilers
Emmerdale casts actor convicted of supplying a date rape drug as Victoria Sugden’s rapist
Alan shares daughter Sienna-Rae with Lucy-Jo, who moved on with new boyfriend Lewis Devine just months after announcing her split from Alan.
Over the weekend she uploaded a gushing post of her own in tribute to her actor beau, who she met while starring in panto in 2017.
Uploading a picture of her birthday haul, Lucy-Jo wrote, “Well I’ve been well and truly spoilt today!!!! I cannot believe how lucky I am.... Thankyou so much baby @lewisdevine.