I’ve kept my boyfriend secret for THREE years – my Emmerdale romances are a disaster but in real life I’m ready to marry

SHE plays Emmerdale’s unlucky in love Gabby Thomas, who is set for more heartbreak at the church altar tonight.

But off-screen, and much to her relief, actress Rosie Bentham’s love life is very different – she’s head-over-heels with her man, who she’s been dating in secret for three years, and today for the first time she opens up about their romance and a wedding of her own.

Olivia West

Emmerdale star Rosie Bentham has opened up about her secret boyfriend of three years[/caption]

Rosie, 24, revealed she’d started seeing her new fella a couple of years ago, but until now, the couple have kept their blossoming relationship under the radar.

Now, she tells us how they were set up by a mutual friend – and admits her boyfriend hadn’t even watched Emmerdale before they went out together on their first date.

Smiling, Rosie says: “We were introduced by a mutual friend and he knew what I did for a job but hadn’t seen the programme! His mum and grandparents watch Emmerdale, though.

“I am happy, and I am glad my life is a lot more peaceful than Gabby’s! We’ve been together for nearly three years. He is a quantity surveyor and lives in Yorkshire. We are both really into our health and fitness.

Her mystery man doesn’t want to be named and, unlike Rosie, is happy to stay out of the limelight.

But when it is pointed out how amazing it must be to be able to keep their romance private for so long, she nods as she reveals he accompanied her to the recent Soap Awards – but went undetected. 

She explains: “He has never been one for all of that (fame). He likes to stay anonymous, and I respect that. 

“But he came with me to the Soap Awards, and he loved it. I like going to events with him as it’s fun for an outsider to have a glimpse of the TV world we work in, but at home and when we are together, we don’t really speak about Emmerdale that much.

“But he does find it funny when people come up and call me Gabby!”

She adds the couple aren’t living together yet, but hints their relationship could one day be put on a more permanent footing.

Asked if, like her soap character, she would love to marry, the actress admits:  “I would love to get married one day. I know some of my friends aren’t bothered, but I definitely am.

“It wouldn’t be a big lavish do, but I would love to get married one day in the UK.”

Weddings are on her mind now more than ever, thanks to her storyline, and she says filming tonight’s dramatic Emmerdale scenes made her feel excited about what could lie ahead when she tried on wedding dresses for her character.

She says: “We went to a wedding shop to try on some dresses for Gabby. Last time, when Gabby was going to marry Nicky, she wore a Hollywood-style dress with big curls and lots of make-up. This time, it’s sleeker.

“The wedding shop is used to fitting people for their own big day, so I had to explain the one I was trying on was for a fake wedding!

Olivia West

Gabby says her man likes to stay out of the limelight but occasionally goes to star-studded events with her[/caption]

“But trying the dresses on did make me feel excited. I actually really like the wedding dress Gabby is wearing, so maybe I will need to have a different colour for my own.”

But unlike Gabby, who is a single mum to four-year-old Thomas in the show, Rosie is in no rush to have children.

Rosie says: “I’ve got a five-year-old niece and that’s enough for now. I am too young at the moment and I love an afternoon nap, which you can’t have when you have kids.

“But I would love to have some children one day. I really want to have a little family grow up in Yorkshire.”

Soap shocker

Sadly, the same bliss cannot be said for her character, who is due to marry Vinnie this evening.

Rosie joined the soap nine years ago to play scheming businesswoman and single mum, Gabby, whose love life has been a disaster.

Four years ago, she fell pregnant and gave birth to a son, Thomas, after having a relationship with Kim Tate’s son, Jamie. 

He refused to have anything to do with her, and Gabby went on to fall in love with Nicky Milligan, played by Lewis Cope. 

He proposed to her in 2023, but she was jilted at the altar after learning he’d been faking their romance.

Now history looks set to repeat itself when Gabby turns up at the altar again to find her future husband, Vinnie Dingle, played by Bradley Johnson, is nowhere to be found.

Unbeknownst to Gabby, he is being blackmailed by a man called Mike who he met on a gay website after feeling confused about his sexuality.

Mike has already attacked Vinnie and is now threatening to expose his secret to Gabby.

To make matters worse for the fan favourites, Gabby is hiding a huge secret from Vinnie and the soap’s millions of viewers.

Rosie hints: “There are going to be a lot of big repercussions tonight. Gabby has just got back from a holiday with her mum, Bernice, and she told her a big secret.

“Only they both know, and viewers will be kept in the dark for a while as to what this secret is. Bernice has told Gabby that Vinnie is not the man for her.

“There are lots of reasons as to why, but this secret is one of them.

“Gabby is determined, though, to go ahead. She wants this dream wedding and thinks they could be the perfect couple.

“She’s been in her own little bubble too and hasn’t even noticed Vinnie is stressed out with his own troubles and has been declining her.

“He is dealing with being blackmailed by Mike, and the whole thing is a recipe for disaster, given he is grappling with how he even feels about Gabby, too.”

Whether they tie the knot or not is being kept a closely guarded secret, but she says she feels very sorry for the situation Gabby is about to be put in.

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Rosie revealed she snuck her boyfriend into the soap awards without anyone realising[/caption]

ITV

Rosie’s character has had her fair share of ups and downs over the years[/caption]

Rosie adds: “When we were filming the scenes, we all kept saying to each other how awful it must be to wonder if your husband is going to even turn up or not. 

“The only worry should be about your hair and make-up – not whether you will be left at the altar.

“I feel really sorry for Gabby. She wants everything to be perfect and to have her happy ever after. 

“She is not the greatest mother at all; she is quite selfish, and she wants to finally have a perfect life now.”

Filming with Bradley, who plays Vinnie, and some of Emmerdale’s legendary stars, including Claire King, is so much fun, says the stunning actress. 

“We do have lots of fun together and who would have thought when I joined at the age of 15, I would get to share a dressing room with Claire King?!

“She is lovely, and she has really welcomed me into the Home Farm clan. I do love working with Claire.”

She also admits that when she first joined, she never imagined in a million years she’d still be playing Gabby. 

Olivia West

Rosie also opened up about her late dad – and how he’d feel about her Emmerdale weddings[/caption]

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Rosie doesn’t share pictures of her man on social media[/caption]

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Rosie with her former co-star and off-screen bestie Daisy Campbell[/caption]

“I was only 15 and having to do schooling and GCSEs,” she recalls. “It was hard and took over my life, but I never thought I would still be here nine years later. 

“I feel very proud to be part of the cast, and I love working on Emmerdale.

“I feel very grateful too that I have signed a contract knowing I get to do a job I love, playing such a ruthless businesswoman who is so sarcastic. 

“When you go to things like the Soap Awards, it makes you realise how important the soaps are. 

“Everyone I ever meet out and about is always very nice – although they are often shocked as I look so different away from the TV screens. I don’t wear blazers and high heels at home like Gabby.”

Down-to-earth Rosie grew up in Nottingham with her parents, John and Marianne, and three siblings who have always been hugely supportive.

Sadly, her dad died of a pulmonary embolism or blood clot a week before she turned 18 in 2019. He was just 60.

She says: “Dad was always so supportive and so involved. He always wanted me to be in lots of stories, and I know he would be proud today.

“Mind you, I am not so sure how he would feel knowing Gabby is now getting ready for another wedding.”

Turning back to the soap, Rosie smiles as she remains tight-lipped as to whether Gabby will become Mrs Dingle. 

She teased: “If Gabby is left heartbroken and Vinnie doesn’t turn up tonight then I think she should focus on her business and being a better mother. But if she and Vinnie do work it out and marry, it would be nice if she stopped being so selfish.

“I’d also love it if she got involved in a super soap week one day. I’ve never been part of one, and it’s the height of excitement being involved. 

“But for now, it’s safe to say there is going to be a lot of drama…”

Emmerdale airs every weekday on ITV1 and STV1 at 7.30pm. Episodes can also be downloaded on ITVX