Kenny Doughty is known and loved for playing Brenda Blethyn's on-screen sidekick, DS Aiden Healy, in ITV's detective drama Vera – and fans were left heartbroken when it was announced that he would be stepping away from the role after eight years.
While fans of the series will know all about Aiden's personal life, how much do you know about the relationship status of the actor who plays him? And did you know he's dating a major TV star?
Kenny, 48, is thought to be dating actress Ashley Jensen, who has racked up an impressive list of screen credits over the years. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the BBC comedy series Extras, the comedy-drama detective series Agatha Raisin and ABC's Ugly Betty, but has also appeared in the sitcom Catastrophe and the 2022 two-part drama, Mayflies.
© Can Nguyen/REX/ShutterstockAshley, 53, also played Ricky Gervais' on-screen love interest in Netflix's hit dramedy, After Life, and may also be recognised for her role as Jennifer Lore in the Christmas musical, Nativity!
Last year, Ashley was cast in the upcoming eighth series of BBC crime drama, Shetland, taking over as the lead detective from Douglas Henshall.
MORE: Shetland star Douglas Henshall reveals reason behind shock exit
MORE: Vera star Brenda Blethyn's private home she lives in for half the year
While neither Kenny nor Ashley has publicly spoken about their relationship, they were pictured holding hands while enjoying a night out together in Bath back in 2021 and were also photographed while attending the Radio Times Covers Party earlier this year.
© BBCThe actors co-starred together in the BBC One drama, Love, Lies and Records, which first aired in 2017.
The series follows the busy life of Leeds-based registrar Kate Dickenson as she tries to juggle her personal life with the daily dramas of births, marriages, deaths and relationships. Ashley starred as Kate in the series, while Kenny played her colleague and love interest, Rick Severs. Watch them in the trailer below.
Both Kenny and Ashley were previously married. Kenny wed actress Caroline Carver in 2006 before the couple went their separate ways 15 years later in 2021, while Ashley was married to actor Terence Beesley for ten years until his death in 2017.
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