Many soap stars have been very open about the connections they share with their co-stars in real life.

While some of these connections are public knowledge, other details of their private lives have not been thrust into the limelight.

Some stars have proved that acting is in their genes by starring in Britain's biggest soaps such as Eastenders and Coronation Street with their siblings or other relatives.

And some have tied the knot with their co-stars, taking the connection home as well as on-screen.

Daily Star has cast an eye at some of the soap stars you might not have realised are related to each other in real life.

Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach

Coronation Street actresses Brooke Vincent and Ellie Leach may play step-sisters Sophie Webster and Faye Windass on the soap, but they're also related in real life.

Brooke and Ellie are cousins, and Ellie joined the soap when she was just nine years old.

At the time, Brooke said: "I am chuffed to bits for her. She has made me so happy.

"We are all thrilled about it and I can’t wait to be with her on set to show her around."

Jamie Borthwick and Charlie Winter

EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick found out he was related to his co-star Charlie Winter after joining the cast of the show.

Jamie only made the discovery after having a hunch the pair were related and doing some investigating into his family background, OK! online reports.

He said: "My great uncle is called Charlie Winter, so when they said there was a kid coming in called Charlie Winter, I was like, 'Seriously?'.

"Turns out we are second cousins."

Amelia, Isabella and William Flanagan

Acting talent clearly runs in the Flanagan family, as youngsters Amelia, Isabella and William are all regular faces in the ITV soaps.

Amelia, 12, plays April Windsor, Marlon's daughter, and has been there since 2014.

Meanwhile, nine-year-old twins Isabella and William are both in Coronation Street.

Since 2017, Isabella has played Fiz's daughter Hope Stape, while William has played Chesney's son Joseph Brown since the same year.

Charley Webb and Jamie Lomas

Emmerdale's Charley Webb is well known for playing Debbie Dingle for the past 18 years.

A little known fact is that her brother is also a soap star.

Her sibling is Jamie Lomas who played Warren Fox in Hollyoaks until 2011, and later Jake Stone in EastEnders.

Jamie and his sister share a close bond and Jamie even walked her down the aisle when she got married.

Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden

Emmerdale stars Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden, who plays David Metcalfe, may not have much to do with each other on the ITV soap, but the same can't be said for their real lives.

That's because the duo have been married since 2018 and share three sons together.

The couple have been together much longer though, since 2007, and announced their first pregnancy in September 2009.

Their son Buster was born in April 2010, Bowie was born in December 2015 and their third son Ace in July 2019.

Joe Swash and Shana Swash

These days Joe Swash is well known for his stints on reality shows I'm A Celeb and Dancing on Ice, as well as being Stacey Solomon's husband-to-be, with the pair often sharing candid Instagram posts about family life.

Of course he was first thrust into the limelight when he played Mickey Miller in EastEnders.

When Joe made his first appearance in Walford, EastEnders bosses brought in his actual sister Shana Swash to play his on-screen sister.

Shana played Mickey’s pregnant 13-year-old sister before being written out of the show after two years.

Joe left the soap in 2011, before enjoying a successful presenting career, while Shana still acts.

Shana was most recently seen supporting her brother at Dancing on Ice earlier in 2020.

Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley

It seems Emmerdale is the place to find love, as Rhona Goskirk actress Zoe Henry is married to Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley.

The two characters rarely ever interact, though Rhona did once admit that Cain was her village crush.

College sweethearts Jeff and Zoe got married in 2003 and they have two children together – a daughter Violet, born in 2005, and son Stan, born in April 2008.

Chris Chittell and Lesley Dunlop

Another married couple from Emmerdale are actors Chris Chittell and Lesley Dunlop.

Chris plays the soap's longest-serving cast member Eric Pollard, having been on the soap since 1986.

Meanwhile, Lesley joined in 2008 in the role of Brenda Walker.

The couple tied the knot in 2016.

Elsewhere in the cast list, Natalie J Robb (Moira Dingle) is dating Jonny MacPherson (Dr Liam Cavanagh), while Laura Norton (Kerry Wyatt) is engaged to her on-screen brother in law Mark Jordon (Daz Spencer).

• Emmerdale
• Coronation Street
• Eastenders
• Hollyoaks

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