'Oaks stars Claire Cooper, Scanlan dating?

Hollyoaks stars Claire Cooper and Emmett Scanlan have been pictured on holiday kissing, seemingly confirming rumours that they are dating.

The actors, who play Jacqui McQueen and Brendan Brady in the Chester-based soap, have apparently been in a relationship since last year, but this is the first time that they have been publicly pictured together.

Images obtained by the Daily Star Sunday showed the pair strolling on a Mallorca beach, holding hands and cuddling, as Cooper wore a black bikini and Scanlan relaxed in shorts and a shirt.

A source admitted that the couple are an open secret on the Hollyoaks set, but that Cooper, who has been nominated for the 'Best Actress' prize at the British Soap Awards 2011, had been reluctant to advertise the relationship.

"They get on really well and everyone is genuinely happy for them," the insider explained.

"They started seeing each other last year but things turned serious between them after Valentine's Day. Emmett whisked her off to Paris and they came back more loved-up than ever.

"Claire's worried that if she talks about her personal life it will put a lot of pressure on their relationship as Emmett isn't the first of her co-stars that she's dated. She had a brief relationship with Kevin Sacre, who played Jake Dean, so she won't talk about it."

This weekend, Scanlan, who is up for the 'Best Actor' gong at the British Soap Awards, has admitted that he shares some of the "bad boy" traits of his soap alter ego.