BRIDE AND JOY: 'I NEVER THOUGHT I'D ACTUALLY GET MARRIED!'

FORMER EASTENDERS STAR MICHELLE COLLINS TIES THE KNOT IN A CHIC LONDON CEREMONY

- LISA JARVIS AND DANNI KING

Michelle Collins was all smiles as she finally married her fiancé Michael Davidson after 10 years of dating in a low-key ceremony in London last week.

The couple were joined by their closest family and friends, including Michelle's former co-star Adam Woodyatt, as they exchanged vows at midday on 8 August.

It was an emotional affair from start to finish as Michelle told us after her big day, "we all cried a lot".

Speaking exclusively to OK!, she explained, "My mum [Mary] had passed away [last year], my daughter [Maia] was away. It was an incredibly emotional day because I kind of never thought I would actually get married and Michael didn't really want to get married.

“It was very emotional because, as Michael said in his speech, we’ve lost a lot of people and there were a lot of people who couldn’t be there.”

She continued, “His speech was so amazing – he’s not like me, Michael. Everyone knows him and knows we’re yin and yang. I’m the sociable one and he’s quite happy to sit back, but it works brilliantly. So, when he did this amazing speech, everyone was tearful. He thanked everyone and particularly the people that weren’t there.”

The actress has never been married before, but has 24-year-old daughter Maia from her relationship with ex-partner Fabrizio Tassalini, and she’s still grieving the loss of her mother, who passed away last year following a two-year battle with cancer. While Michelle clearly missed her on her wedding day, there were lots of nods to make sure her late mum’s presence was felt by everyone.