"Corrie Fans Shocked to Discover Two Iconic Stars Were a Couple for 5 Years – After One of Them Bragged About Dating 100 Women!"

Published on October 10, 2025 at 12:28 PM
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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.

Alison King attends the British Soap Awards.Coronation Street star Alison King once dated another very famous co-star Carla Barlow in a mortuary, looking at someone in the foreground.The actress is known for playing Carla on the soap Denise Welch as Natalie Horrocks and Phil Middlemiss as Des Barnes posing outside the Rovers Return for their on-screen wedding.Actress Alison once dated fellow Corrie star Phil Middlemess who played Des Barnes – seen here with onscreen wife Natalie played by Denise Welch Phil Middlemiss and Alison King smiling.Alison and Phil dated for five years in the late 90s

The in question are in the 90s, and current star , who is known for her role of Carla Connor.

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.

Des Barnes and Raquel Wolstenhulme at Curly and Raquel's engagement party, with Curly Watts in the background.Phil’s character is known for being a ladies man

“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 who graced the cobbles throughout the 90s.

Actor Phil was a regular fixture of the soap from 1990 to 1998 when he quit the show.

Phil’s character Des was known for being a charming ladies man.

Natalie cradles Des after he was attacked at home in Coronation Street.Phil’s character Des was killed off Corrie when he left the soap

On the soap he was married to Natalie Barnes, the Rovers landlady played by star .

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 .

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.

Phil Middlemiss on the TV show 'Good Morning Britain'.Phil appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss his ups and downs

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 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:

  • Up-to-date news on our
  • cast members
  • Where is and can you visit the set?
  • The history of Coronation Street’s iconic pub

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