Carla Connor’s life on Coronation Street has never been short of drama, and her latest storyline is no exception. With her fiancée Lisa Swain by her side and her ex-wife Becky suddenly reappearing from witness protection, Carla is once again caught in a storm of love and loyalty. But just as fans thought they knew everything about her on-screen heartbreaks, Alison King, the woman behind the iconic character has surprised everyone with a revelation about her real-life past that has left viewers stunned.
Alison King’s Early Ties to the Cobbles
Before Alison took on the powerhouse role of Carla in 2006, her life already had subtle links to Coronation Street. Long before she was a household name, she was often photographed at Corrie events, socialising with cast members.
And now fans know exactly why. It turns out Alison once dated actor Philip Middlemiss, who played the popular character Des Barnes, for five years during the 1990s. The discovery recently came to light after a fan on Reddit unearthed an old 1995 Sunday Mirror interview featuring Philip. There, he spoke warmly about their relationship.
The newspaper revealed that Alison and Philip first met in Tenerife while she was managing a Fat Willy’s Surf Shack in Devon. Philip recalled how he instantly liked her because she wasn’t dazzled by his fame. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance, with Philip often making the 260-mile trip from Manchester to visit her in Devon. But by 2000, as Alison’s career took her to London. Ultimately, distance got in the way and they decided to part ways.
Fans Spot a Strange Link Between Past and Present
When the news broke, Coronation Street fans couldn’t help but connect dots between Alison’s real-life romance and her on-screen world. Many were quick to notice an eerie coincidence. Carla and Lisa recently bought Number 6 Coronation Street, the very house where Des Barnes once lived and tragically died. One fan joked that Alison had finally moved into her ex’s home, while another pointed out thatVicky Myers, appeared as a nurse in Des’s death episode.
Another viewer playfully remarked that “Swarla were always destined,” referring to the Carla-Lisa pairing that fans have grown to love. Even though it started as an innocent bit of trivia has turned into a full-blown nostalgia trip for Corrie lovers. It links her past and present in the most unexpected way. Over the years, she has also been linked to Hollyoaks director Paul Slavin, actor Jim Alexander, and Brookside star Louis Emerick. Not long after her breakup with Philip, she was briefly connected to Corrie’s Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald.
It seems that, whether in fiction or reality, Alison King’s world has always been intertwined with Coronation Street. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Coronation Street news, throwbacks, and exclusive behind-the-scenes updates.