Fans of the classic ITV sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart were left amazed by the sweet revelation that two co-stars, who portrayed lovebirds on-screen, were actually in a real-life romance.
In the episode titled How I Won the War from series six, which transported Gary and Phoebe to a concert troupe in wartime Belgium, audiences met Sid and Nancy Potter, a married couple with undeniable chemistry.
Behind the scenes, Nancy, played by Bonnie Langford, now 60, and Sid, brought to life by Paul Grunert, aged 68, were more than just co-workers – they walked down the aisle back in 1995 and shared their lives for 20 years, even welcoming daughter Biana into the world. Unfortunately, their love story came to an end in 2015 amidst a divorce due to “unreasonable behaviour”.
Bonnie, known also for her role in Doctor Who, first encountered Paul while appearing on the musical stage in 1987. But fast forward to 2015, The Sun reported that Bonnie had secured a “quickie divorce” which took a fleeting 90 seconds in court proceedings, leaving their union in ruins.
A source informed the daily: “Bonnie split from her husband quite some time ago and it is very amicable and they remain good friends.”
The insider added: “Bonnie has not discussed the split publicly as she is an extremely private person who rarely talks about her personal life and she wants it to remain that way for the sake of their daughter,” reports the Express.
Bonnie, who is quite private about her personal life, has shared some insights into her marriage over the years. She revealed before their split: “I’d known Paul since 1987, when we’d done a show together. But I just hadn’t thought of him in that way. Then a friend suggested we all get together.
“In the end, she couldn’t make it, so it was just Paul and me. And that was that. It’s always the times in your life when you’re not looking that you find what you need.”
Interestingly, they weren’t the only Goodnight Sweetheart stars with real-life connections. Reg actor Christopher Ettridge starred alongside his actual son Alfie Ettridge Rogers, who portrayed Reg’s son Frank in the episode One O’Clock Jump.
Moreover, Ellie Sparrow, the daughter of Gary and Yvonne, was played by Esme Coy, the real-life daughter of Emma Amos, who played Yvonne.
Goodnight Sweetheart is available to watch on ITVX
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