Emmerdale’s Jonny McPherson reveals lockdown helped his romance with co-star Natalie J Robb blossom

Their relationship was revealed in June this year after they were spotted together on a cast Zoom call to celebrate co-star Liam Fox’s birthday.

And Emmerdale‘s Jonny McPherson has revealed his romance with co-star Natalie J Robb has gone from strength-to-strength after the couple made the decision to move in together at the start of lockdown

Speaking in a new interview, Jonny, 38, who plays Dr Liam Cavanagh on the ITV soap, told how lockdown ‘fast-forwarded’ his relationship with the Moira Barton actress, 45, as they began living together after just three months.

Happy: Emmerdale’s Jonny McPherson has revealed his romance with co-star Natalie J Robb has gone from strength-to-strength after the couple made the decision to move in together at the start of lockdown

Romance was sparked between the pair during a charity trip to Lapland just before Christmas.

The stars began seeing each other and had enjoyed several dates since, however, the coronavirus lockdown in March forced them to make a huge decision about their romance – somewhat sooner than they no doubt planned. 

Speaking about their relationship, Jonny told The Mirror: ‘We had to make a decision as lots of couples did. We decided to move in together and so, yes, lockdown did fast forward our relationship.’

Eight months on, the couple couldn’t be happier, with Jonny explaining they get on so well because they have a similar sense of humour.

New love: Speaking in a new interview, Jonny, 38, who plays Dr Liam Cavanagh on the ITV soap, told how lockdown 'fast-forwarded' his relationship with the Moira Barton actress, 45, as they began living together after just three months

New love: Speaking in a new interview, Jonny, 38, who plays Dr Liam Cavanagh on the ITV soap, told how lockdown ‘fast-forwarded’ his relationship with the Moira Barton actress, 45, as they began living together after just three months

He went on: ‘We get on so well. We come from quite different backgrounds but we are essentially the same person. We are both a pair of big kids. We have exactly the same stupid humour.’

The actor, who has played unlucky-in-love Dr Cavanagh since 2018, added that the coronavirus lockdown was a ‘real test’ to see how their relationship would fare in the long-term.

He continued: ‘There is nowhere to hide during lockdown. It’s a real test of whether you do get on with a person and thankfully we got through with flying colours.’ 

Loved up: Their relationship was revealed in June this year after they were spotted together on a cast Zoom call to celebrate co-star Liam Fox's birthday

Loved up: Their relationship was revealed in June this year after they were spotted together on a cast Zoom call to celebrate co-star Liam Fox’s birthday

Jonny added that they hadn’t spend any real time together until that trip to Lapland, with the pair getting on ‘like a house on fire.’

He went on to say that they’re ‘having a lovely time’ together, with the workaholics often spending an evening ‘discussing scripts and learning lines.’ 

Natalie, who has played Moira for the last 11 years, previously discussed their relationship in July as she confirmed their romance rumours. 

Big decision: 'We had to make a decision as lots of couples did. We decided to move in together and so, yes, lockdown did fast forward our relationship'

Big decision: ‘We had to make a decision as lots of couples did. We decided to move in together and so, yes, lockdown did fast forward our relationship’

The soap siren opened up on her romance with the actor during an appearance on Loose Women, explaining the relationship ‘just kind of evolved’ after the pair grew close on a charity trip.

She told how the couple went on their first date in January, but managed to keep things secret until June, when it was revealed they were together. 

She explained: ‘Yes, Jonny McPherson and I started to see each other, our first date was in mid-January, and then we were just having a couple of dates in February.

Blossoming: 'There is nowhere to hide during lockdown. It’s a real test of whether you do get on with a person and thankfully we got through with flying colours'

Blossoming: ‘There is nowhere to hide during lockdown. It’s a real test of whether you do get on with a person and thankfully we got through with flying colours’

‘Then obviously in March, lockdown happened and we were together at the time that Boris Johnson announced it, so he’s been staying with me, and they were saying, “Yes it could be six weeks, yes it might be eight weeks”, and I was like, “Oh OK!”‘

Discussing their Lapland trip, she continued: ‘We just kind of evolved. We did a charity where you go out with children who have cancer and you take them to Lapland. 

‘We were on that, and it’s a day trip, so you’re there and back in a day, and from then on we just sort of got to know each other better. 

Plenty to smile about: The soap siren recently opened up on her romance with the actor, explaining the relationship 'just kind of evolved' after the pair grew close on a charity trip

Plenty to smile about: The soap siren recently opened up on her romance with the actor, explaining the relationship ‘just kind of evolved’ after the pair grew close on a charity trip

‘I’ve worked with him and things, but I’ve got to know him better and just went on from there. A few text messages and things like that. We went out for a meal and the rest is history.’

Natalie even alluded to their passionate ‘making up’ sessions during lockdown, explaining: ‘We’ve had a few wobbles, I’m not going to lie… but the making up was fantastic.’ 

‘We’re very compatible, but he does leave lids off everything and doors open, he just leaves doors open, that’s about it. 

‘We kind of gave each other space, we did our daily exercise, I’ve got a dog which he’s very fond of, so we took turns doing that. Luckily it’s worked.’ 

Spilling the beans: Natalie told how the couple went on their first date in January, but managed to keep things secret until June, when it was revealed they were together

Spilling the beans: Natalie told how the couple went on their first date in January, but managed to keep things secret until June, when it was revealed they were together

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