UPDATE: |Hollyoaks’ Nikki Sanderson gushes ‘looks good on you’ as TV star boyfriend celebrates major milestone News

Fans of the Hollyoaks star will know she’s loved-up with actor Anthony Quinlan and they’ve recently been celebrating

Nikki Sanderson has been seen celebrating her fellow TV star boyfriend as he celebrated a major milestone. Fans of the Hollyoaks star will know she’s loved-up with actor Anthony Quinlan.

The couple have been dating since 2022, and fans of Hollyoaks will know that they both worked together on the popular Channel 4 soap for a brief time back in 2011.

Anthony rose to fame on the programme back in 2005 where he spent six years playing Gilly Roach. He then later appeared in Emmerdale will fans of the ITV soap best know him for playing Pete Barton.

Nikki, meanwhile, was already well known in the 2000s for her time playing Candice Stowe in Coronation Street and it wasn’t until 2012 that she took on the role of Maxine Minniver in Hollyoaks.

Anthony and Nikki made their romance ‘Instagram official’ on Anthony’s birthday, days after he spoke about their new romance in an interview. Anthony told The Sun at the time: “I slid into the DMs and that was it. I was lucky enough to get a date and the rest is history.”

He went on to say: “All I can say is I’m really, really happy and she’s a very special girl. She’s lovely.” The pair have since shared glimpses into their relationship online and in her latest update, Nikki revealed she’d been helping her beau celebrate his 40th birthday.

Alongside a picture of the pair sharing a romantic kiss as they stood alongside huge LED lights spealling out ’40’, Nikki wrote on Instagram: “40 looks good on you [love heart eyes emoji].”

She continued: “The happiest of happy birthdays my love @anthonyquinny [red heart emoji]. 40 and truly fabulous! I hope your 40’s are as special as you are. I love you [kiss emoji] #boyfriend #birthday #happybirthday #celebrate #40 #love #happy.”

Responding to the post, Anthony wrote in the comments section: “Aww. Thank you my beaut [red heart emoji]. Love you lots!” And the birthday wishes quickly came flooding in.

@hilarywood85 said: “Wooow you both don’t look 40 but have a fab time..as the song say’s young at heart… you both looking good enjoy.” @jilly1b wrote: “Happy 40th birthday @anthonyquinny.” @rachelnoonan1234 commented: “Happy Birthday @anthonyquinny You Both look Gorgeous.”

@shelly_ballinger_ replied: “Happy birthday,@anthonyquinny have the best 40th.” @heidi.crompton.5 posted: “Happy 40th birthday Quinny. Gorgeous photo of you both.” @itsfranciswadsworth1 added: “Happy 40th birthday.”

Meanwhile, Nikki has reased that her upcoming exit scenes from Hollyoaks are dramatic. The 40-year-old star has played the role of Maxine for more than 22 years, but is leaving the show to explore other opportunities and has given an insight into her departure.

Speaking to Digital Spy ahead of her exit, she said: “Whenever you leave a soap the only way to go is dramatically. With Maxine’s exit, it is a very dramatic last few episodes before she exits, however that may be. Everyone wants to leave on a high, a dramatic note.”

Nikki’s final scenes are set to air in May and viewers will see in episodes next week that Maxine will expose her ex Dodger Savage’s (Danny Mac) identity as an undercover officer to Donny Clark (Louis Emerick) as he is intent on bringing down a criminal operation that is led by corrupt copper DI Banks (Drew Cain).

She added: “In her mind she’s weighing up the pros and cons, risks vs benefit shall we say! Maxine massively thinks by doing this it will be beneficial. She’d never do anything to hurt the people she loves ever, she truly cares about people and wants to look after and protect those around her. Going to the police comes from a genuine place of thinking this is going to help.”

Previously, Nikki admitted that she was advised to ditch her dreams of acting and go into forensics when she was at school.

The former Coronation Street star told Inside Soap magazine in 2021: “When I went to the careers office at school, my two options were an actress, or something in the forensics field, as I was really interested in that. I loved studying the human body.”

She even revealed that she still has the pamphlets that were given to her by the careers officer who didn’t think acting was a viable option.

She added: “And the careers officer said to me, ‘Maybe you should stick to the forensics thing, because I can’t see the acting working out for you!’ I still have the pamphlets she gave me.”