CORRIE LOVE: ‘WE WERE BEST FRIENDS FIRST BEFORE WE EVEN KISSED'

ALAN HALSALL AND GIRLFRIEND TISHA MERRY OPEN UP TO OK!’S KAT ROMERO ABOUT HOW THEY FELL IN LOVE AND STARTING A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN ONE DAY

- KAT ROMERO

They celebrated their one-year anniversary together in April, but for actors Alan Halsall and Tisha Merry, their relationship was a long time coming as the pair enjoyed a lengthy friendship before striking up a romance.

The couple first met on the set of Coronation Street, where Alan has played Tyrone Dobbs since 1998 and Tisha played Steph Britton until late last year.

“We were good friends for about nine months before anything happened between us,” Tisha, 27, says as the pair open up for their first ever joint interview.

“Everyone assumed something was going on,” Alan, 37, adds. “I’d go to my mum’s house and she’d say, ‘Anything happening yet?’”

Nine months later, Alan and Tisha decided to give things a go over a bottle of wine and a game of Scrabble, and they’ve gone from strength to strength since – with Tisha moving into Alan’s six-bedroom Manchester home late last year.

Focusing on what makes their relationship work, Alan – who shares six-year-old daughter Sienna with ex-wife Lucy-Jo Hudson – says, “When we’re together, it’s always fun. The fun in our relationship is great.”

“I’ve said this to you, and you’ve also said you couldn’t have spent lockdown with anyone but me,” Tisha adds.

Looking ahead to the future, the happy couple admit they’ve discussed the possibility of starting a family. “He’s such a good dad,” Tisha gushes. “He’s so caring and loving. I would love that for our child if we have one.”

Here, Alan and Tisha tell us about falling in love, looking ahead and Alan’s recent return to the cobbles...