Wedding bells are on the way for two former Hollyoaks stars, as Niamh Blackshaw and Angus Castle-Doughty have officially announced their engagement. The couple, who first met while working on the Channel 4 soap, shared their happy news online after four years together, and fans of the show are absolutely loving it.
The Engagement Announcement
Both Niamh and Angus posted adorable photobooth snaps showing off the sparkling engagement ring, confirming that Angus had popped the question. While they kept the details of the proposal fairly private, Niamh did give followers a glimpse into her excitement with a funny and very relatable comment about married life. Sharing the photos on Instagram stories, she joked: ‘Lucky lucky lucky (I’ll NEVER change my name though !!!)’
The sweet update quickly sparked a flood of congratulations from fans and former co-stars alike, with plenty of familiar Hollyoaks faces celebrating the news. Jessica Fox and Nikki Sanderson were among those sending their love, both writing: “Congratulations” on the couples announcement post. Meanwhile, actor Henry Rowley shared his excitement too, posting: ‘Congrats both!!!! The best best news’.
Their Hollyoaks Journey
Niamh became a fan favourite during her five-year stint as Juliet Nightingale, one of the soap’s most emotional and memorable characters in recent years. Her storylines tackled everything from family drama and relationships to Juliet’s heartbreaking cancer diagnosis, with viewers praising Niamh’s emotional performances throughout her time on the show.
Angus, meanwhile, played villain Eric Foster between 2022 and 2023. His character caused chaos in the village during a dark and controversial storyline that saw him become one of the soap’s most talked-about characters at the time. Although their characters lived very different lives on screen, off-screen, the pair quietly built a relationship that has now led to engagement news.
Going Public
The couple first confirmed they were together publicly back in January 2023, going Instagram official with heartfelt New Year posts reflecting on a big year for both of them. At the time, Niamh shared: ‘A year of growth, learning, kindness, loneliness, boundaries and acceptance. Ending in a better space than it began.’ Angus also opened up about the major life changes he’d experienced, writing: ‘2022 saw me move to the other side of the country, take the biggest step in my career, a relationship end and a relationship start.’
Since then, the pair have largely kept their romance out of the spotlight, only occasionally sharing glimpses of holidays, special moments and life together on social media. That’s partly why fans were so excited to see the engagement announcement finally arrive. Although neither star has revealed any wedding plans just yet, it’s clear they’re enjoying the moment and celebrating with friends, family and former castmates.
And while Niamh might not be planning to take Angus’ surname anytime soon, one thing’s certain: soap fans are fully invested in this real-life love story.
