CORONATION Street fans have been left with their mouths open after discovering TWO of the soap’s legends once were a couple.
What is even more surprising, is that these pair of actors were on the soap almost a decade apart.
7
7
7
7
The soap stars in question are Phil Middlemiss, who played love rat Des Barnes in the 90s, and current Corrie star Alison King, who is known for her role of Carla Connor.
Reddit sleuths have unearthed an old article from October 8, 1995 that confirmed they were once a couple who were “madly in love”.
The story was from when actor Phil was at the height of his Corrie fame.
Alison, however, who was just 22 at the time, was not famous and was referred to as a “surf shop girl” in the story.
In the article Phil claimed that he had “bedded 100 women” but was now “in love” with Alison.
Posting the story on the discussion forum, fans went wild at this revelation.
One wrote: “No way!!”
Another added: “How random,”
This Corrie fan said: “I still can’t get my head around this!”
A fourth added: “Small world!”
According to reports the pair dated for five years, Phil telling the Scottish Daily Record: “I’ve never been happier. She is a wonderful girl. I love her to death.”
They reportedly met at a Tenerife bar in March 1995, before splitting in 2000.
Phil confessed: “I was in love with Allie. She’s the only person I’ve ever really loved.
“But she was working in London and I was in Manchester.
7
“In another life, if I had been a bus driver and she had worked at the local baker’s shop, we would have got married and had kids by now.”
Corrie fans will well remember lothario Des Barnes who graced the cobbles throughout the 90s.
Actor Phil was a regular fixture of the ITV soap from 1990 to 1998 when he quit the show.
Phil’s character Des was known for being a charming ladies man.
7
On the soap he was married to Natalie Barnes, the Rovers landlady played by Loose Women star Denise Welch.
However, during his time on Coronation Street, Des went onto to also have an off-again romance with Raquel, who was played by the legendary Sarah Lancashire.
Raquel later moved onto her famous screen partner, Curly Watts, but it was Des that played havoc with the pair in a bid to get revenge on Raquel leaving him.
Des even sabotaged their engagement party as an act of jealousy and rage.
7
Since quitting the cobbles in the late 90s, when his character was killed off, Phil has enjoyed a varied career mixed with a series of personal setbacks.
In 2012, the actor faced bankruptcy after a film he had put his life-saving into in 2008 failed to take off as a result of the financial crisis.
It forced Phil to take money from family and friends as he told the Manchester Evening News: “It was partly-funded by myself but I didn’t have the money to fund the rest of the film.
“Filming came to a grinding halt. It was nearly three-quarters of the way along the line. It has been a difficult time. Three-and-a-half years is a long time to fund myself without any income.
” I have had to get money from family and friends.”
Meanwhile, his former girlfriend Alison joined the soap in 2006, almost a decade after Phil left, and six years after their split.
The actress’ character Carla is best known for being the boss of the knicker factory, Underworld.
Over the last two decades she has been involved in numerous high-profile storylines, from steamy affairs to battles with alcoholism.
This is turn has seen her win numerous awards, including Best Actress at the British Soap Awards in 2012.
Coronation Street Spoilers: News & Cast Updates
The beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
The show follows the lives of the residents as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
Here’s the latest on: