ITV Emmerdale fans are just realising Ella Forster actress is married to fellow soap star

Emmerdale fans are just realising Ella Forster actress is married to soap star (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale fans were taken aback when they found out who actress Paula Lane’s husband is in real life. Paula, who plays Ella Forster in the soap, first appeared on Emmerdale in 2024, with her character hiding a dark secret.

It was later unveiled that Ella had been jailed for murdering her best friend at the tender age of 11. Now going by Ruth, she has spent her life moving from place to place.

Ella landed in the Dales in January and quickly settled in, striking up a friendship with Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and starting a romance with GP Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson), which has since fizzled out. Prior to Emmerdale, Paula was recognised for her role as Kylie Platt on Coronation Street from 2010 to 2016, where she portrayed Becky McDonald’s (Katherine Kelly) half-sister and David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) wife. Kylie’s heartbreaking departure from the show took place in 2016.

Former Corrie star Paula Lane with her husband Tom Shaw – who saved the day by stepping into panto with just an hour to spare

However, it’s Paula’s personal life that has recently caught fans off guard. The actress is wedded to fellow soap actor Tom Shaw, and they have two children together, Arthur and Penny, according to Leeds Live, reports Leicestershire Live.

Paula and Tom, both of whom have starred in Corrie and Emmerdale, are childhood sweethearts who started dating after meeting at Huddersfield Tech. They exchanged vows in May 2014 at Leeds Cathedral.

Arthur, the first bundle of joy for the couple, made his grand entrance into the world in December of that very year. Not too long after, in July 2016, they were blessed with their second little one, Penny Grace.

On the professional front, Tom has impressed soap audiences with roles such as Kim Vaughan on Coronation Street from 2017 to 2018. Kim emerged on the scene with connections to Jennie McAlpine’s character Fiz, due to their shared history in a care home.

Tom has appeared in Emmerdale as copper Craig Bishop

Tom also graced the small screen in Emmerdale, where his significant other is a star, playing the part of village copper Craig Bishop. Over the years, he popped up in bits and pieces across eight episodes from 2014 to 2019.

Recently, the soap-watching crowd was taken aback upon learning about Paula’s nuptials with Tom. An Emmerdale Facebook fan page lit up with a snapshot of the duo, sparking reactions such as: “Paula Lane and husband Tom Shaw.”

Reminiscing, another fan posted: “He was in Emmerdale years ago and Coronation Street.”

The buzz didn’t end there, with further whispers like: “I thought I recognised him,” and “I remember him from Corrie.”