What began as a whirlwind backstage romance between two of Britain’s biggest soap stars has now quietly come to an end.
Katie McGlynn, known to millions as Sinead Tinker from Coronation Street, has split from former EastEnders actor Max Bowden, just months after the pair were photographed sharing an intense kiss during a night out — a moment that left her ex-fiancé “heartbroken.”
A Romance Born Behind the Curtains
Katie and Max first grew close earlier this year while touring together in the stage thriller Murder at Midnight. Working side by side, their chemistry quickly spilled offstage — and by October, they were spotted in Malvern, laughing, holding hands, and locking lips on the street outside The Foley Arms pub.
An onlooker at the time said the pair looked “incredibly comfortable” and “lost in their own little world.”
But the whirlwind couldn’t last
Sources now confirm that the relationship has “run its course.”
“It all happened very fast,” a theatre insider revealed. “But Katie has taken a step back and decided to call things off. Max is struggling with it — it’s awkward, and he’s pretty cut up.”
Despite the breakup, the pair are expected to return to the stage together in the New Year when the production resumes its UK tour.
For now, both are taking time apart over Christmas… with hopes that tensions cool before rehearsals restart.
A Complicated Twist: Her Ex Was ‘Devastated’
The romance made headlines not just because of the kiss — but because of who was watching from afar.
Katie’s former fiancé, Ricky Rayment, was said to be “devastated” at seeing her move on so publicly. The pair had once planned a future together, making the street-snog with Max even harder to swallow.
Meanwhile, Max — who has a history of dating fellow actors — had previously been linked to EastEnders stars Danielle Harold and Shona McGarty.
What Happens Next?
Professionally, both Katie and Max remain committed to the touring production. Personally, however, sources say they are “keeping their distance.”
Whether they can maintain onstage chemistry after an offstage split remains to be seen — but one thing is certain:
their real-life plot twist is every bit as dramatic as the soaps that made them famous.