STARS from the nation’s favourite soaps have become staples on the biggest reality competitions.
Whether Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Big Brother or I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, viewers get to see the real personality behind a recognisable character.
Some who swapped their fictional setting for reality TV ultimately reaped the rewards whereas others were less successful.
Here is at look at the varied fortunes of some of those who made the leap.
Before winning I’m a Celebrity… in 2008, Joe Swash was largely known for playing Mickey Miller in EastEnders.
While in the famed ITV jungle, Joe shared a camp with the likes of George Takei, Martina Navratilova and Simon Webbe.
The star then parlayed his popularity into a hosting career, including the I’m A Celebrity spin-off show which was later named Extra Camp.
Still a familiar media personality, Joe later again won an ITV competition after claiming victory on Dancing on Ice.
In 2021, he placed third in that year’s series of Celebrity MasterChef.
Each of the three Thomas brothers – Ryan, Adam and Scott – have experienced success after appearing on reality TV.
Following his departure from Coronation Street after 16 years, eldest brother Ryan signed up to appear on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
He joined the likes of Dan Osborne, Chloe Ayling and Jermaine Pennant in that year’s line-up.
During his time on the programme, Ryan was at the centre of a controversy when fellow contestant Roxanne Pallett accused him of “repeatedly punching her.”
This, however, was not the case – and Emmerdale actress Roxanne later issued a lengthy apology to her co-star.
Ryan went on to win Celebrity Big Brother and later also won Dancing on Ice in 2024.
Meanwhile, Adam is also known as an actor with roles in Emmerdale and Waterloo Road.
In 2016, he starred in I’m A Celeb and went to finish third behind Scarlett Moffat and Joel Dommett.
Adam subsequently hosted the final season of spin-off Extra Camp with former campmate Joel and 2018 runner-up Emily Attack.
He also starred on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023, but was overall the seventh celebrity to leave the show.
As for Scott, he took a different route by appearing in the 2016 series of Love Island.
During his time in the villa, he coupled up with the likes of Zara Holland and Kady McDermott, finishing third alongside the latter.
In 2023, actress Ellie Leach took a big step by leaving Coronation Street.
She had been starring in the ITV soap as Faye Windass since 2011.
That same year, Ellie signed up to appear in Strictly Come Dancing.
She was paired with Vito Coppola, who’d partnered Fleur East in the previous series.
Ellie joined fellow soap stars Adam Thomas, Nigel Harman and Bobby Brazier in the cast.
She and Vito ultimately went on to win the coveted Mirrorball trophy.
As already mentioned, Roxanne starred on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Ryan Thomas in 2018 – but is best remembered for her role in “punchgate”.
After making the accusation, the former Emmerdale actress slept in the spare bedroom, away from her fellow housemates.
While Ryan insisted there had been “no malice”, Roxanne branded him “a liar”, and a “woman beater”.
She voluntarily left the House on Day 17, but sat down with host Emma Willis for an exit interview two days later.
During this chat, Roxanne said she’d made a “horrible mistake” and wished to be forgiven.
Stephanie Davis appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, a year after leaving her role as Sinead O’Connor in Hollyoaks.
During her time in the House, Stephanie met Irish model Jeremy McConnell, beginning a tumultuous on-off relationship.
Although they stepped out of the Celebrity Big Brother house they called it quits after a couple of months amid reports of cheating.
They split before Steph announced that she was pregnant with his baby.
Throughout her pregnancy Jeremy denied that he was the father and demanded a paternity test.
After her son, Caben-Albi was born, fans were convinced that he was the spitting image of Jeremy.
He then went on to take a paternity test live on This Morning before later confirming that he was the dad on social media.
In 2017, Jeremy was was found guilty of assaulting Stephanie in a cocaine-fuelled rampage.
Before entering the I’m A Celeb jungle in 2004, Dean Gaffney was best known for playing Robbie Jackson in EastEnders.
He joined the likes of Myleene Klass, Jason Donovan and eventual winner Matt Willis in that year’s camp.
During his jungle stint, Dean memorably took on the “Jungle Spa”, which saw him rummage through hundreds of critters, much to his vocal displeasure.
As always, it was all in a bid to find winning stars for his campmates’ meal.
Unfortunately for the actor, this trial was broadcast live meaning viewers were seeing his agony play out in real time.
After his time on I’m A Celeb, Dean’s biggest role has been return stints to EastEnders.
Soaps are renowned for their sweet and scandalous romances – but it's not just in scripted storylines where love is blossoming. A number of our favourite small-screen actors have fallen for co-stars and soapland rivals when the cameras have stopped rolling.
Max Parker and Kris Mochrie
Beth Cordingly and Ian Kelsey
Laura Norton and Mark Jordan
Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley
Lesley Dunlop and Chris Chittell
Sally Carman and Joe Duttine
Anthony Cotton and Peter Eccleston
Jane Danson and Robert Beck
Caroline Harding and Chris Gascoyne
Nadine Mulkerrin and Rory Douglas Speed
Sophie Austin and Shayne Ward
