Real-life soap couple Nikki Sanderson and Anthony Quinlan have enjoyed a loved-up holiday together after she announced she would be leaving Hollyoaks.
Last month, the actress shocked fans when she revealed she’d quit her role as Maxine Minniver in the Channel 4 soap.
She later jetted off on a romantic getaway with boyfriend Anthony, who shot to fame as Gilly Roach on Hollyoaks between 2005 and 2011 – though the two didn’t cross paths on the soap as he’d departed for pastures new by the time Nikki had landed her role.
The couple, who first went public with their relationship in 2022, both shared a carousel of pictures of their trip to Cyprus on Instagram.
Anthony, who is also known for his role as Pete Barton in Emmerdale, wrote: ‘Spent a week living our best lives… eating, relaxing, and pretending we don’t have responsibilities.
‘Fully recharged but want to go back!’
Nikki commented: ‘The BEST time with you… always ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️.’
Earlier this month, Nikki opened up about her decision to leave Hollyoaks after 12 years, revealing it was an ‘incredibly difficult’ decision to walk away.
‘Maxine is a huge, huge part of my life – and a part of my life that I’ve loved,’ she said.
‘It’s difficult to think, “It’s time”, and it wasn’t an instant or overnight decision, it took me a long time to make it and it was something I genuinely fought with myself about, but I’m lucky that I could talk to people around me and get people’s opinions.
‘I’m grateful that I’ve had the stability for so long, now I’ve just got to embrace the instability of not knowing what’s next.’
Speaking to OK! Magazine, Nikki said that her recent 40th birthday played a part in her decision.
She said: ‘I know I’m older, and time is going fast, but I want to embrace it and be excited about my forties.
‘I’m more confident and comfortable in myself than I used to be, and I want to make the most of whatever exciting things might come my way.’
