Michelle Collins is ENGAGED! Soap star, 59, will exchange vows with partner Mike Davidson, 38

Michelle Collins is ENGAGED! Soap star, 59, confirms she will exchange vows with long-term partner Mike Davidson, 38, after accepting surprise marriage proposal during LA getaway

Michelle Collins has revealed her engagement to her long-term partner Mike Davidson, after 10 years together.

The soap star, 59, confirmed the news in an Instagram post shared on Thursday night, along with a slew of loved-up snaps of the pair.

Currently soaking up the sun during their LA getaway, the pair had been hiking up Temescal Canyon when Mike popped the question. 

Michelle Collins is ENGAGED! Soap star, 59, has confirmed she will exchange vows with long-term partner Mike Davidson, 38, after accepting his marriage proposal during their LA trip

Flashing her dazzling engagement ring while wearing a ‘Be Kind’ black baseball cap, she wrote: ‘So this happened in #la he got down on bended knee while we were on the top of #temescalcanyon basically no one else around just us.

‘It’s #beautiful and I’m #happy #10years this April about time I think #magicmike. 

‘#Thankyou @val_king_ for having us and making us so #welcome as always ! #greatlady.’

The pair began dating in late 2012, after they were set up by Michelle’s niece, who is said to have worked for Mike at a retail store.

Adorable: The soap star, 59, confirmed the news in an Instagram post shared on Thursday night, along with a slew of loved-up snaps of the pair

Adorable: The soap star, 59, confirmed the news in an Instagram post shared on Thursday night, along with a slew of loved-up snaps of the pair

Wow! Currently soaking up the sun during their California getaway, the pair had been hiking up Temescal Canyon when Mike popped the question

Wow! Currently soaking up the sun during their California getaway, the pair had been hiking up Temescal Canyon when Mike popped the question

Congrats: She wrote: 'So this happened in #la he got down on bended knee while we were on the top of #temescalcanyon basically no one else around just us'

Congrats: She wrote: ‘So this happened in #la he got down on bended knee while we were on the top of #temescalcanyon basically no one else around just us’

At the time that rumours began to swirl about their romance, Michelle was coy about confirming things, though she couldn’t help but gush about being in love.

She said: ‘I don’t want to tempt fate by talking about my personal life.

‘I want to avoid the curse of celebrity magazines, where as soon as people reveal how blissfully in love they are it all falls apart! All I’ll say is I’m enjoying life right now.’

The relationship mirrors Michelle’s former Corrie storyline, in which she indulged in a steamy romance with a then 29-year-old Jason Grimshaw, played by Ryan Thomas.

Blind date: The pair began dating in late 2012, after they were set up by Michelle's niece, who is said to have worked for Mike at a retail store (pictured in 2019)

Blind date: The pair began dating in late 2012, after they were set up by Michelle’s niece, who is said to have worked for Mike at a retail store (pictured in 2019)

Michelle has never been married, but has a 22-year-old daughter Maia Rose from her relationship with Fabrizio Tassalini who passed away in 2014.

She has also been in relationships with cameraman Mark Waters and Parry Cockwell, to whom she was engaged before the pair called off their wedding and split in 2005.

Michelle rose to fame for her role as Cindy Beale in EastEnders, first joining the soap in 1988 for a two-year stint.

She returned to Albert Square two years later before departing for good in 1998.

Michelle later joined the cast of rival soap Coronation Street, joining the ITV series as Stella Price in 2011.

She departed the soap three years later, telling Manchester Evening News it was difficult to juggle work in Manchester with her responsibilities as a parent to daughter Maia, 24, in London.

She said: ‘I’d always said I’d only do three years on the show, which is what I’ve done. Everyone knows I’m a single mum, and ultimately my daughter is my priority and it was tough dividing my time between Manchester and London.’ 

Coincidence: The relationship mirrors Michelle's former Corrie storyline, in which she indulged in a steamy romance with a then 29-year-old Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas)

Coincidence: The relationship mirrors Michelle’s former Corrie storyline, in which she indulged in a steamy romance with a then 29-year-old Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas)

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