EastEnders fan Kerry Scouler took a chance and messaged the actor who played Lee Carter, Danny Hatchard, directly on social media. The bold move paid off, and the pair are still together six years later.
Scouler, a model, said she slid into Hatchard's DMs because she fancied him. The message started a conversation that grew into a long-term relationship. The couple now shares their life on joint TikTok and Instagram accounts, where they post comedy sketches and trends.
DM leads to six-year relationship
In a recent TikTok video, Scouler is seen approaching Hatchard for a cuddle, with text on the screen reading: 'me when I messaged Lee Carter from EastEnders cos I fancied him & we're still together 6 years later.' She captioned the clip: 'And that's on manifestation ladies'.
The couple had previously kept their relationship relatively private. Scouler had shared a photo from a holiday in Cyprus in December 2020, showing the two snuggling on a boat, with the caption: 'Truly blessed by you.' In July, they launched joint social media accounts on TikTok and Instagram, with the bio: 'Two plonkers plonking.'
Danny Hatchard opens up about career and name change
Hatchard recently revealed he has changed his professional name from 'Danny-Boy' to simply 'Danny'. He explained: 'My name is Danny Hatchard. My real name is Danny-Boy Hatchard, but I decided to change it because I'm getting a little bit older now, and I felt like the 'boy' needed to go.'
The name change came shortly after Hatchard shared his candid thoughts on the acting industry in a TikTok video. He said: 'I'll tell you something, this acting game's hard. I've been in this business for 13 years now, and on the surface, it looks like I'm a raging success and everything's going smashing. And don't get me wrong, I'm very, very, very proud of my list of credentials on TV and theatre. But the gaps in between…there's still a ton of rejection. It's incredibly competitive and it is not for the weak.'
Reflecting on his EastEnders exit
Hatchard had previously spoken to The Mirror about his departure from EastEnders, which was the decision of then-executive producer Sean O'Connor. He said: 'It was his decision and I had to respect that just in terms of how my storyline came to an end. That is just the way it is.'
He added: 'It was a comfortable job but it is like a revolving door that place, as people do come and go and things change. It is like a chocolate factory and we bang out scenes like no tomorrow. We have a responsibility and we have to make sure it is done right. You can't really let your hair down.'
Hatchard also reflected on his growth: 'My concern was that staying in one place too long does not help you to grow as an individual and it does not allow you to reinvent yourself and that is what is important. I had a life outside EastEnders, and there are some people in EastEnders who let it consume them. I was very serious about it and I enjoyed every second of it but it was just time for me to go. I guess now I will never be typecast.'
