Soap kids you never knew were related – from Coronation Street twins to Jacqueline Jossa’s cousin on EastEnders
CHILD stars have been at the centre of some of soapland’s juiciest storylines of late – and a number of them not only share scenes, but a bloodline too.
This week Coronation Street's Hope Stape (played by Isabella Flanagan) was up to no good again, staging the "kidnap" of pal Joseph Brown by hiding him in a loft.
The duo are cousins on the cobbles, but in real life Joseph actor William Flanagan, 11, is her twin brother.
And it seems acting runs in the family, because their big sister Amelia Flanagan is also a soap star.
The actress, 13, has played April Windsor in Emmerdale since 2014 and has won numerous accolades for her performances – including Best Young Actor at the 2016 Inside Soap Awards.
The Flanagans aren't the only family with soap star credentials - here we reveal other young starlets who are related in real life.
Lacey and Daisy Turner and Lily Harvey
Lacey Turner, 33, has been a long-term fixture of EastEnders, playing Stacey Fowler since 2004 - and she’s not the only member of her family to enjoy a stint on Albert Square.
Lily Harvey, now 22, was nine when she followed in her big sister’s footsteps and played Shenice Quinn between 2011 and 2012.
Meanwhile middle sister Daisy Turner, 31, appeared as bad girl Rebecca Massey in Hollyoaks in 2011 - but fell victim to serial killer Silas Blissett after just a few weeks.
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Ellie Leach and Brooke Vincent
Brooke, 29, has been on the cobbles since 2004 playing Sophie Webster - the daughter of show stalwarts Kevin and Sally Metcalfe.
The star’s cousin Ellie, 20, followed in her famous relative’s footsteps when she joined Coronation Street in 2009, as Faye Windass.
The pair are step-sisters in the soap, but in real-life they have a very close bond.
Ellie even became godmother to Brooke’s son Mexx, now two.
Jamie Borthwick and Charlie Winter
EastEnders star Jamie, 27, and Charlie, 25, were unaware they were related and had never met until they both starred alongside one another on the BBC soap.
After recognising Charlie - who played Hunter Owen - shared the surname of his great uncle, Jamie did a bit of a digging into his family history.
The actor, who has portrayed Jay Brown since 2006, discovered they were second cousins and since then the pair have shared sweet shots together online.
Rebecca and Jack James Ryan
Coronation Street is definitely a family affair for the Ryan family.
Jack, 25, made his return to the soap as bad boy Jacob Hays this month after first appearing in March 2020.
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Meanwhile his big sister Rebecca, 30, made her debut on the soap back in December as Lydia Chambers.
Ryan told the Manchester Evening News that he was “buzzing” when his sibling was cast in the show and cited her as his “biggest inspiration growing up”.
Jacqueline and Megan Jossa
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner Jacqueline played troubled teen Lauren Branning in EastEnders between 2010 and 2018.
The actress, 29, who was crowned Queen of the Jungle in 2019, has revealed she will “definitely” return to the soap in the future when the storyline is right.
Many fans are unaware that her cousin Megan Jossa, 25, also appeared in EastEnders, playing Courtney Mitchell between March and June in 2006.
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She didn’t reprise the role when her character returned to Walford in 2016, meaning she never got to act alongside her cuz.
Megan went on to land roles in The Bill and played Debbie in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical - and now bears a strong resemblance to Jacqueline!
