For almost a decade, their struggles with chaotic family life transfixed the nation.
Now actors Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner – stars of hit BBC sitcom Outnumbered – have spoken for the first time of their real-life happiness after it emerged that they have been in a relationship since last year.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday yesterday, Mr Dennis – who played frazzled dad Pete Brockman in the show – confirmed the romance, saying he was ‘very happy’ after finding love with Ms Skinner, the woman who played his on-screen wife Sue since it began in 2007.
Actors Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner – stars of hit BBC sitcom Outnumbered – have spoken for the first time of their real-life happiness
Hugh is pictured left with his ex wife Kate Abbot-Anderson and right is Claire with her former husband Charlie Palmer
‘I am very, very happy, we are so very happy,’ he said, speaking at his London home yesterday.
‘It’s nice and yes, it’s so lovely,’ he added with a smile on his face.
Friends say that the couple are ‘very much in love and have been for the last year’ after finding one another following the breakdown of their marriages.
It is understood that their family, close friends and a select few colleagues had been aware of their relationship, though they had chosen not to ‘go public’ with it.
The friend added: ‘It’s the most wonderful love story, they found one another at the right time in their lives and it’s all rather sweet.
‘Over the past few weeks there has been some talk within the acting world of them being an item.’
The Mail on Sunday understands the couple live together in the £1.2 million London penthouse flat Mr Dennis bought following his split from his second wife, Kate Abbot-Anderson, in 2015.
Friends say that Ms Skinner, who will star in ITV’s much-anticipated drama Vanity Fair this autumn, stays there ‘a lot’ and on Friday night they were seen going out for dinner together in the sunshine.
It is understood that the couple have been open with their respective exes and their children about their new relationship, which will come as a shock to loyal fans of the show.
Despite the pair being seen out in public together several times, it was presumed that they were just good friends.
Outnumbered cast Karen (Ramona Marquez), mum (Claire), dad (Hugh), Ben (Daniel Roche) and Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey)
Ms Skinner, 53, split from her TV director husband Charles Palmer two-and-a-half years ago after marrying in 2001.
Now divorced, they have two sons – William, 19, and Henry, 16. Despite their separation she continued to refer to him as her ‘husband.’ Mock The Week panellist Mr Dennis, 56, has two children with estranged wife Ms Abbot-Anderson – Freddie, 21, and Meg, 19.
Last night, Meg said they knew of the new relationship but did not want to comment. Speaking at the £1 million cottage she shares with Ms Abbot-Anderson in the village of Up Marden, West Sussex, Meg said: ‘I’m aware of what has happened. My mother does not want to talk about it. Neither do I.’
The award-winning Outnumbered was watched by 9.4 million viewers at its peak and ran for five series between 2007 and 2014, with a one-off Christmas special in 2016.