Emmerdale's Michelle Hardwick and wife Kate Brooks invited us into their stunning newly renovated home to give OK! an exclusive look behind closed doors back in 2022.
Joined by their adorable son Teddy, the loved-up pair took us on a guided tour of their idyllic home, which boasts a home bar, wedding memorabilia and even a home cinema for the family-of-three.
Speaking in the exclusive video, the couple took us into their playroom for their son, as Michelle explained: "It's another calming room isn't it?" She added, "We chose these nice colours, like nice and neutral and he plays in here quite a lot."
When Michelle isn't acting on TV, she loves spending time with her wife Kate. The couple met at work, on the set of Emmerdale where Kate was working as a producer.
They started going out and told everyone about their love in September 2017, months after Michelle had split up with her first wife Rosie.
Michelle and Rosie were together for three years and had a big dream wedding in April 2015. But Michelle said they decided to split in 2016, although they stayed friends.
Michelle talked to the Daily Star in February 2017, explaining she didn't tell the other actors on Emmerdale about the split until they saw she wasn't wearing her wedding ring anymore.
She said: "It was one of those unfortunate things where we did drift apart. We had the big fairytale wedding and I still love that day, it was brilliant. It's just really sad and one of those things that happens.
"I don't know how else to explain it. I grew out of love and she became more like my best friend."
The telly star announced her new relationship with Kate on social media during National Coming Out Day. She posted a cosy black and white snap of the two of them all bundled up in coats and hats, captioning it: "It will all work out in the end #behappy #nationalcomingoutday #loveislove @thekatebrooks."
While chatting on Loose Women, Michelle shared: "We met a couple of years ago, across the coffee machine, that's the only time we ever see each other at work, we started going out a couple of years ago."
Instead of a big wedding, the couple chose to keep their special day just for themselves, flying off to Tennessee.
Michelle explained that they wanted a small celebration and planned to party with their family and friends back home in the UK.
She shared snaps of their big day on Instagram, revealing they had tied the knot at Elvis Presley's famous Graceland in Memphis.
The pair looked fab in matching white outfits, with Michelle wearing a flared jumpsuit with bell sleeves, and Kate looking gorgeous in a beautiful dress. The newlyweds both wore sunglasses and held bouquets of flowers.
They also have a cute baby together Michelle announced their happy news in April 2020, posting a red heart emoji and "#BabyBrooks" in the caption.
Fans flooded the comments section with congratulations after she joked that their dog Fred would become a big brother.
On 11 October 2020, Michelle and Kate shared the happy news that their son was born on 9 October.
In an exclusive chat with OK!, the couple opened up about becoming mums. They revealed they chose a donor to be their son Teddy's biological dad, and were deeply touched by the experience.
They invited us into their new home near the show's Leeds base, to meet little Teddy who was born in October 2020.
"It sounds very clinical, but you read these kind of CVs, all about the characteristics of the man, his values and family life," explained Michelle, who plays vet Vanessa Woodfield in the ITV soap - in which she has starred since arriving in 2012 as an old friend of fellow vet Rhona Goskirk, played by Zoe Henry.
In November 2022, Michelle gave birth to the couple's second child. Taking to Twitter, she announced the news.
"Introducing Betty Brooks to the world!" the actress told her fans. "Betty made a cheeky early appearance on Tuesday 15th November weighing 5lb 10ozs."
"We all love you so much our beautiful Betty B," Michelle added.
