Emmerdale couple reportedly dating in real-life after chaotic on-screen romance

Emmerdale stars Ned Porteous and Olivia Bromley are reportedly dating in real-life, after the chaotic on-screen romance between their characters Joe Tate and Dawn Fletcher came to a tragic end recently.

The Sun is reporting that the duo grew close throughout this year as their characters, who were due to be married, had a lot of scenes together. From there, romance blossomed, and they've reportedly taken the next step outside of the soap.

Bromley has obviously left the ITV soap following Dawn's death in August, with the actor having been a mainstay for the past eight years. Porteous, meanwhile, returned to the series in 2024 after making his debut seven years prior.

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Digital Spy reached out to Emmerdale regarding the speculation, but the soap has declined to comment, stating that it does not talk about its stars' - whether past or present - personal lives.

Joe and Dawn's relationship was marred by drama, as Dawn was manipulated into thinking that Joe had attacked her ex-husband Billy. Following that, she planned to leave with her former flame and their children on her wedding day to Joe.

However, she changed her mind and returned to the venue to tie the knot. That's where disaster struck, as Jimmy King's van swerved to avoid Vinny Dingle and crashed into the wedding marquee.

Both Dawn and Jimmy died as a result of the crash, and Joe has been on the warpath ever since. Caleb and Ruby Miligan, the couple who were behind the manipulation of Dawn, have been in his sights.

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Part of Joe's retribution saw him bury Ruby alive, and he recently teamed up with the villainous Sadie King in a bid to get vengeance. Given her chequered past, this may not be the wisest move.

She tried to go through a plan of seducing Caleb this week, but it didn't work at all. However, neither Joe nor Sadie are the kind to give up easily, so what have they got in mind now?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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