Coronation Street star explains the secret behind 22-year romance

Coronation Street star Jane Danson has revealed the secret to her 22-year relationship with husband Robert Beck.

In an interview with OK! recently, the Leanne Battersby actor drew comparisons to her character's long-term romance with Nick Tilsley (Ben Price).

"Me and my husband have been together for 22 years, and we're really good friends as well as loving each other lots," she explained. "Nick and Leanne are similar in a way.

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"We feel like we've gone full circle. They've been childhood sweethearts since they were about 16, and I was 18 when I met my husband so I think whatever it is they keep coming back to each other.

"It's nice for us, as actors, to be able to draw on that history. Leanne has much more drama in her life than I do in mine though, that's for sure!"

Beck, who currently stars as corrupt businessman Fergus Collins in Hollyoaks, and Danson met one another back in May 1999, when the latter introduced herself to the then-Emmerdale star at the British Soap Awards.

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"I'm not the world's most confident person but I'd had a crush on Rob since I was 15, so I thought, I have to speak to him, it's fate," Danson recalled in a previous interview with the same publication.

After hitting it off at the event, the pair went on to tie the knot in 2005, before welcoming their first child, a son named Harry, in July 2006 and a second, Sam, in February 2009.

"Rob's absolutely my best friend in the world," she said. "We've only had about two rows in 20 years. I'm not saying we don't get on each other's nerves sometimes but we're a strong team and we've always allowed each other to be individuals."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.