WHILST anything can happen in soap land, and often does, it is rare to see crossovers between the primetime shows.
However, you may be stunned to realise that more than a fair few soap stars have had plenty of experience pretending to be related to one another.
Do you remember everyone?
A whole host of characters from the Dales to Albert Square have in fact been related in ‘another life’ on rival soaps.
From one legendary couple pretending to be a husband and wife more than once to a set of Corrie siblings who had already had a taste of being brother and sister, these characters prove that family really is everything no matter which soap they join.
The Celeb Report has compiled a list to bring you right up to speed on all your soap family connections.
Now let’s take a look and see if you remember them all…
Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson (Brookside and The Royale Family)
Sue and Ricky first played husband and wife in 1982
They then did it again – this time for The Royale Family
Sue and Ricky made names for themselves when they played a husband and wife duo in classic Channel 4 soap Brookside.
The pair both began appearing in the show in 1982 as Sheila and Bobby Grant.
Viewers were enthralled by the ups and downs of the couple’s life and the many hard-hitting challenges they had to face.
Fans will remember Sheila’s horrific rape ordeal in 1986 when almost every character on the soap became a suspect for the crime.
The lovebirds eventually called it quits in 1988 amid Bobby’s financial strain and he walked away from his wife and the soap itself.
Sue stuck around for an extra two years before waving goodbye herself in 1990.
However, eight years later, the duo were reunited on BBC sitcom The Royale Family where they were back to playing husband and wife, Jim and Barbara Royale, once again.
The popular comedy aired between 1998 and 2000 before having a series of one-off specials between 2006 and 2012.
Actress Sue later had a turn in another soap, albeit this time without Ricky, when she played Gloria Price in ITV’s Coronation Street.
She played the feisty character between 2012 and 2014.
Tina O’Brien and Jack P. Shepherd (Coronation Street and Clocking Off)
Jack and Tina in Clocking Off
They are mostly known as the Platt siblings
Both Tina and Jack have become household names thanks to their portrayal of bickering brother and sister, Sarah and David Platt.
They have become so synonymous with their roles that it is hard to believe that this was in fact their SECOND time portraying brother and sister on a TV show.
Despite only being kids when they joined the popular ITV show, Tina and Jack had actually had a brush with fame on the small screen before.
Tina and Jack played siblings in the popular BBC One series starring Sarah Lancashire, Clocking Off.
A few years ago, Jack shared a throwback photo of the two from their time on the programme.
At the time of filming in 1999, Jack would’ve been around 11 years old, while Sarah would’ve been 16.
Jack captioned the picture: “Flash back to me and @tinaob83 I’m Clocking Off 1999.”
Tina joined the Corrie cast soon after filming had wrapped on Clocking Off in 1999, with Jack joining shortly after in 2000.
Rebecca Sarker and Chris Bisson (Coronation Street and Emmerdale)
Rebecca and Chris look baby-faced in their Corrie days
They ended up becoming step-mum and son in Emmerdale
Although now both regulars in Emmerdale, Rebecca and Chris actually first appeared as brother and sister in Corrie in 1999.
Rebecca played the role of Nita Desai for around a year and a half with Chris playing her brother Vikram.
Chris remained with the show even longer – clocking up just under four years before he finally waved goodbye to the cobbles in December 2022.
He then went onto join Emmerdale as strong-minded businessman Jai Sharma in 2009.
Remaining in the Dales ever since, he has been involved in some of the soap’s most shocking and controversial stories.
However it was not until 2018 that he was reunited with Rebecca when she eventually became his step-mum on the show.
Going from siblings to step-parent and son, Rebecca played the role of Manpreet Jutla, who married Jai’s father Rishi.
It brought the pair to reunite on screens once again with their previous days as brother and sister long behind them.
Jesse Birdsall and Gillian Talyforth (Hollyoaks and Footballers’ Wives)
Gillian and Jesse have been husband and wife more than once
From Footballers’ Wives to Hollyoaks
Whilst Gillian has made her name thanks to playing the long-running character of Kathy Beale in EastEnders, she has also had stints in two other popular shows where a certain someone has been cast both times as her hubby.
Gillian appeared in the wildly popular ITV show Footballers’ Wives as Jackie Pascoe.
She was joined by her soon-to-be husband in the third series of the programme, Roger Webb, played by actor Jesse Birdsall.
The pair appeared as the loved-up couple until the show drew to a close after five seasons in April 2006.
However, seven years later, both Gillian and Jesse were playing husband and wife again – this time in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.
Gillian played Sandy Roscoe with Jesse as Fraser Black.
Fraser was up to no good during his time on the soap and became involved in many criminal activities and wrong-doing’s.
Neither of them stuck around for very long as they both quit the show in 2014.
Gillian later returned fora very brief stint early in 2015 but hasn’t been seen in Chester since.
Rebekah Elmaloglou and Terence Donovan (Home and Away and Neighbours)
In 1990, this pair were father and daughter
They later had another family connection in Neigbours
It isn’t just here in the UK where familial relations crop up amongst the soaps.
Down Under, two Aussie legends have also played more than one set of relatives.
Back in 1990, Rebekah Elmaloglou and Terance Donovan appeared as father and daughter Al and Sophie Simpson in Home and Away.
However, they had a tricky relationship and it was clear that Al could not be the father Sophie needed or wanted.
He didn’t stick around for long and he left in the same year when his character was sent to prison.
However, the pair were reunited over 20 years later – this time on rival show Neighbours.
Actress Rebekah began appearing as Terese Willis in May 2013, part of the Willis family that Terence had brought to fame in the 90s.
Terence played family patriarch Doug from 1990 to 1994 but later re-joined the show a year after Terese’s arrival.
This meant they were part of the same family once again – although a little more distant.
In the show, they are father-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Simon Williams and Lisa Faulkner (EastEnders and Holby City)
From Holby City to the East End
Simon and Lisa played relatives in two popular BBC shows with more than 15 years in between.
Lisa appeared as the character of Victoria Merrick in Holby City between 1999 and 2001 where Simon played her father Charlie between 2000 and 2003.
However, the pair were later reunited, this time on Albert Square as uncle and niece.
They were part of the Browning/Wilmott-Brown clan that wreaked havoc on the East End throughout 2017.
Lisa was determined businesswoman Fi whilst Simon was her uncle Hugo and along with the rest of their family they attempted to gain full control of Walford in order to be the real breadwinners.
