HOLBY City heart-throb Alex Walkinshaw is seeing a female co-star 12 years his junior — after splitting from his wife. The actor, 45, who plays nurse Adrian “Fletch” Fletcher in the hit medical drama, has enjoyed visits from Natasha Morgan, 33, at his new flat. The Sun on Sunday can reveal that Alex has separated […]
HOLBY City heart-throb Alex Walkinshaw is seeing a female co-star 12 years his junior — after splitting from his wife.
The actor, 45, who plays nurse Adrian “Fletch” Fletcher in the hit medical drama, has enjoyed visits from Natasha Morgan, 33, at his new flat.
The Sun on Sunday can reveal that Alex has separated from his make-up artist wife Sarah Trusler after 11 years of marriage.
He was seen with Natasha last Friday and over the weekend at his current home near BBC Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
The couple are said to have “hit it off” after meeting on set.
Alex joined Casualty in 2012 and is now one of the best-loved stars of its sister medical drama Holby City, which attracts audiences of almost four million.
An onlooker said: “Alex and Natasha looked comfortable and relaxed in each other’s company as he puffed on a cigarette and she smiled at something he said.”
As well as being a regular nurse on Holby City Natasha has appeared on BBC1 soap EastEnders.
She was a barmaid alongside Danny Dyer, and played a market shopper opposite Shane Richie.
She has also appeared on E4 reality show Made In Chelsea.
Natasha describes herself on her StarNow acting profile as “a lively, outgoing, fun individual”.
She writes: “I’m very hard-working and feel blessed with every opportunity that comes my way.
“I now intend to work my way up and one day be playing my own character or role and have the chance to succeed in something that I dream of doing.”
Her Facebook account shows a snap of her posing with Holby City cast and crew, including Alex.
An industry source said last night that Alex has been helping her with acting tips. They said: “Alex and Natasha grew close after meeting on set.
“They really hit it off and she likes to ask him for advice on her career. She has been comforting him after splitting from his wife.
“It’s obviously a huge change for Alex and she has helped support him through that.
“He has been focusing on his character in Holby City and his craft as an actor.
“He loves his job and it’s been a great outlet for him.”
While Alex is now back filming Holby City, it will be off air until later in the year after running out of episodes amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Alex is believed to have split from Sarah, mum to his two kids, around 18 months ago.
He was previously accused of sending raunchy messages to former glamour model Jill Demirel, 44, behind his wife’s back in 2014.
She claimed he begged her to send him topless photographs during late-night exchanges while he was working away from home, saying he was “lonely”.
Jill, who now runs lingerie parties, added: “At first I thought he was just being friendly. But then he started asking me to send him something to ‘excite him’.
“He then kept asking me to meet him. It was clear what he wanted.”
Alex met Sarah in 1999, when he was engaged to someone else.
Sarah also had a boyfriend but said at the time: “I knew on that first date that he was The One.”
They later sold exclusive interviews and pictures of their engagement and wedding to Hello magazine.
He detailed his “engagement joy” in May 2009 and their couple’s lavish wedding later that summer was run across nine glossy pages.
Describing his new bride he said: “Sarah is beautiful and grounded. Where I’m weak, she’s strong.”
Their star-studded Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed wedding was held at The Queen’s House in Greenwich, South East London.
TV pal guests included EastEnders’ stars Scott Maslen, Gary Lucy and Louisa Lytton plus The Bill and Corrie actor Andrew Lancel.
Alex and Sarah went on to have two children together, now aged 16 and 14.
Alex began his acting career aged just 12 on children’s drama series Grange Hill.
But he first found fame in ITV’s police series The Bill as Sergeant Dale “Smithy” Smith.
In Holby City, his normally cheeky chappy character has been handed some meaty storylines over the past year by the show’s writers.
Fletch has recently been seen fighting cancer and Alex said in March: “This storyline is good, bad, happy and sad and it’s important we show all that.”
He was also involved in a huge affair storyline when he embarked on a romance with Tess Bateman, played by Suzanne Packer.
When Fletch’s wife Natalie discovered the fling, it spelt the end of their marriage.
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