Top News

A soap legend has celebrated her famous husband's birthday with a heartfelt tribute.

Former Hollyoaks star Claire Cooper, who is famed for playing Jacqui McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, called her former co-star Emmett J Scanlan "magic" as he turned 47.

The 45-year-old actress shared a series of photos to Instagram, including a stunning selfie alongside the former Brendan Brady actor, who is seen putting his arm around his wife's shoulder as they strike a pose.

• Katie Price pictured looking frail with mystery man who denied he's 'her husband'
• Ant McPartlin moves 40 miles away from Declan Donnelly after pair speak about their ‘fall out’

Claire wrote: "Happy birthday to my twin flame, my constant, my chaos, my whirlwind @scandalous_13. May this be a year that feels good in your body, steady in your mind, and full in your heart."

The actress added: "Rich in the realest ways … in peace, in laughter, in love, in family, in growth, and in becoming more of who you already are. May your art stay feral, your vision stay sharp and untamed, and your talent keep blowing the doors clean off.

"You are light. You are magic. You are fire. We love you dearly and sorely. And 47 looks soooooo hot on you… (love heart) #happybirthday."

The couple was met with compliments, with actress Roma Downey commenting: "Happy birthday @scandalous_13", while another person penned: "Gorgeous couple, happiest of birthdays."

A third chimed in: "You 2 are a match made in heaven, such beautiful words", while another stated: "Happy birthday, you're like a good wine."

Claire and Emmett met on the set of Hollyoaks in 2010 and got married five years later, in New York on New Year's Eve 2015.

They have two young children together, Ocean and Fiáin, and Emmett has another daughter, Kayla, from a previous relationship.

Emmett originally appeared in Hollyoaks as Brendan Brady from 2010 to 2013, while Claire joined the cast in 2006 and left in 2013. She reprised her role as Jacqui McQueen for two episodes in 2023.

Since leaving the soap, her other screen credits include Sanctuary, The Hardacres, Strike Back, Scott & Bailey, and Amazon’s The Peripheral, while Emmett has also appeared in Kin, Mobland, A Working Man, Unforgotten, The Fall, Peaky Blinders, Gangs of London, and Fool Me Once.

Hollyoaks airs Monday to Wednesday on E4 at 7pm and first look episodes can be streamed Channel 4 from 7am

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website**