A FORMER Emmerdale star has sent fans wild by sharing a rare childhood throwback snap with her husband – 24 years before they got married.
Sammy Winward, 37, played the role of Katie Sugden in the hit ITV soap, from 2001 to 2015.
Former Emmerdale star Sammy sent fans wild with a throwback snap taken with her husband
Sammy rarely shares photos with her childhood sweetheart Martyn
And she married her childhood sweetheart, Human Resources manager Martyn Hardy.
The couple have known each other for a long time, and got married in secret.
Emmerdale’s Sammy says the pair only have a handful of photos together, but she shared one recently, from their school days.
Sammy can be seen leaning close to her now-husband in the snap, while wearing school uniform.
Meanwhile, Martyn wears a signed white t-shirt, tie and hat.
Actress Sammy penned: “Young love. We literally have about 5 photos of us from our school days together so when a new one resurfaced the other day we were over the moon.
“I was 13 here and only went and married the guy! Xxx”
Sammy’s fans loved the post and shared their comments beneath, as one penned: “This is so lovely,” followed by a heart emoji.
A second added: “So sweet!! Meant for each other,” while a third said: “How lovely to find an unseen pic, too cute!”
In October last year, Sammy and Martyn celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary. The couple have been friends for over two decades.
She shared a sweet photo of them together at the time sat on a train, and Sammy told fans: “On our way home from our London celebrations. Had the most magical weekend. The ballet, comedy clubs, food, food, and more food and walking until our feet hurt.
“Six years today being engaged to the love of my life, four years married, 24 years of friendship and still going strong. Here’s to 24 more.”
The actress shares her daughter Mia, 17, with her former fiancé, footballer David Dunn.
Sammy and David were engaged to be married when Mia was born in June 2005, but the couple split just three months later.
During an appearance with Sammy on Loose Women in August 2021, Mia revealed that she’s following in her mother’s footsteps by becoming an actor.
When Loose Women panelist Kaye Adams described Mia as Sammy’s “spitting image”, the former soap actor said: “I always thought ‘oh my god, I’m only going to be 36 or 37 when she is 18’ and I’m nearly there now and it’s just crazy because we just feel like best mates really.
“Obviously there is the mother and daughter relationship, but we’re more like best mates.”
The actress has a 17-year-old daughter named Mia
