Corrie's Leanne icon Jane Danson's marriage to fellow soap star that most fans don't know about
Coronation Street star Jane Danson has portrayed Leanne Battersby on and off for over two decades on the ITV soap and has been married to fellow soap star Robert Beck for 25 years. Jane first joined the Cobbles in 1997 for a three-year stint before making her exit in 2000. She then made a comeback four years later and has been a key character on the show ever since.
However, many will be surprised to hear her husband Robert also starred on the hit ITV soap opera having joined the cast in 2008 before swiftly departing just one year later. The 56 year old, who has also starred in Brookside, Hollyoaks, and Emmerdale, came onto the scene as the character Jimmy Dockerson, who was Tony Gordon's (played by Gray O'Brien) henchman.
While he may have starred on the show for 12 months, his relationship with his wife, Jane, had already been solidified. The pair first met in 1999 at the first-ever British Soap Awards.
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Robert previously revealed to OK!: “We met at the first ever Soap Awards back in 1999. I was in Emmerdale at the time. Jane came over and introduced herself.” Jane added: “I’m not the world’s most confident person but I’d had a crush on Rob since I was 15, so I thought, I have to speak to him, it’s fate.
“Rob’s absolutely my best friend in the world. We’ve only had about two rows in twenty years. I’m not saying we don’t get on each other’s nerves sometimes but we’re a strong team and we’ve always allowed each other to be individuals,” she added.
After years of friendship, which turned into a relationship, the loved-up couple tied the knot in 2005 before welcoming their first child Harry just one year later. In 2009, Jane and Robert welcomed their second son, Sam, into the world.
In 2018, Jane spoke to OK! about her heartbreaking miscarriage, saying: “Sadly we lost our third child a few years ago – I found out I’d miscarried at the three-month scan. It was heartbreaking and it took us a long time to get over it – I don’t think you ever do.
“There will always be that sadness there and there’ll always be that desire, but we’re getting older now and the boys are growing up. Sometimes you just have to appreciate what you have.”
Robert made his soap comeback last year as Chloe Harris' (Jessie Elland) father, Damon 'Harry' Harris, who ended up being killed off by Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) during a Christmas showdown.
Jane paid tribute to her beau when his return to the Yorkshire Dales-based drama was announced in a sweet Instagram post. She penned: "Happy birthday my love @robertbeck529. And congratulations on your @emmerdale return – I owe Emmerdale a lot -24 years of us – I love you, darling."
