Corrie babe Katherine splits from lover

by Elissa Corrigan. Published Tue 09 Jun 2009 10:48

Katherine Kelly

Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly has been putting on a brave face in recent months after splitting from her long-term love.

The Blonde beauty, has spent months trying to salvage her five-year relationship with actor Oliver Williams but it sadly ended when he moved out their Manchester home.

Friends of the couple put the split down to hectic work schedules which has led to an emotional break up and floods of tears.

Katherine, 29, first hit the Street backin 2006 as gobby ex-jailbird Becky Granger.

Since then Becky,who plays the bubbly fiancée of Rovers owner Steve McDonald, has become one of the show's best character and been involved with some of the years best storylines.

Katherine also managed to bag the Best Actress award at this years British Soap Awards but under her happy exterior the Barnsley born babe, was hiding her secret heartache.

Royal Shakespeare Company actor Oliver, also 29, had moved from London to be with Katherine in Manchester while she worked.

The couple met when both were with the RSC and friends said they were "the ideal couple".

But as Katherine became a household name as Becky, Oliver struggled to find work. He even worked in a pub near the Granada studios.

She was working all hours filming a love-tug dilemma with Steve, actor Simon Gregson, and Jason Grimshaw, played by Ryan Thomas.

Earlier this year Oliver landed well-paid film work which took him to Hong Kong. Friends say that was the start of their problems.

A Corrie source said: "They were spending too much time apart and it took its toll. But they both tried very hard to save their relationship.

"It was hard. There were plenty of tears as the weeks went by.

"Oliver recently got his Green Card so he can work in America and, coupled with his work in the Far East, they both decided that it was going to be too big a distance.

"They decided to go their separate ways and focus on their careers."

A female friend in Katherine's circle said: "Only recently she told her pals, 'I'm back being single now. I'm focusing on my work, which is helping a lot'."