The world of British soaps is famous for its explosive storylines, but sometimes the drama behind the scenes is even more intense. A recent family rift involving an Emmerdale legend and her daughter has highlighted just how real these off-screen conflicts can be.
Sammy Winward, best known for playing Katie Sugden in the ITV soap, reportedly stopped speaking to her daughter, Mia, after discovering she had joined the adult content platform OnlyFans. The fallout has been so severe that Mia, who is now expecting her first child, has revealed she has not yet told her mother about the pregnancy.
The OnlyFans family rift
Sammy Winward, who shares her 20-year-old daughter with ex-partner David Dunn, was once vocal about their close bond, calling Mia her "best friend" on social media. However, the relationship soured when Mia began creating content for OnlyFans.
Mia has since stated she left the platform after learning she was pregnant. She told The Sun that while she has quit the site, the path to reconciliation with her mother is long. "There’s a lot to forgive and that process hasn’t even started yet," she revealed, adding they have "got a lot to work on."
Coronation Street's bitter breakup
Another feud that mirrors a soap plot involves former Coronation Street co-stars and real-life couple Ryan Thomas and Tina O'Brien. The pair, who have a daughter named Scarlett together, split in 2009 but tensions have persisted for years.
The conflict reportedly reached a new low in 2022 when Tina was accused of damaging Ryan's car with a baseball bat following a heated argument. While the exact cause remains private, sources have suggested it stemmed from disagreements over their daughter's career, with Ryan encouraging her towards showbusiness while Tina preferred a more "normal life."
EastEnders cast fallout
On the set of BBC's EastEnders, a personal dispute had professional consequences. Actress Danielle Harold, who played Lola Pearce, unfollowed her on-screen husband Jamie Borthwick on social media, confusing fans.
The reason, however, was linked to a separate feud with former co-star Max Bowden. A source told the Daily Mail the pair had been in a relationship that ended poorly, leading to a social media silence and "a lot of emotions" among the cast.
Awards ceremony altercation
One of the most public clashes occurred at the 2019 TV Choice Awards, where Emmerdale's Asan N'jie threatened to stab Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas. The altercation was reportedly over a financial dispute involving one of N'jie's friends.
The incident had serious professional repercussions. Asan N'jie was sacked from his role as Ellis Chapman on Emmerdale shortly after. He issued a public apology, stating he was "devastated" and accepted "full responsibility" for his actions.
Friendship betrayals and CBB controversy
Other notable bust-ups include the 2014 row between Corrie's Kym Marsh and Hollyoaks' Steph Waring. Waring accused Marsh of dating her ex-partner just weeks after their split, breaking an "unwritten rule" of friendship. Marsh dismissed the claims.
Perhaps the most infamous scandal involved Roxanne Pallett. During her time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018, she falsely accused Ryan Thomas of punching her. The incident led to a massive backlash, with 22 of her former Emmerdale co-stars criticising her behaviour online. Sammy Winward was among them, commenting, "It’s been a long time coming."
These real-life stories prove that for some UK soap stars, the drama doesn't end when the cameras stop rolling. From family feuds over career choices to explosive arguments between exes, the personal lives of these actors can be as gripping as any scripted plot.
