Rob Mallard has become a beloved fixture on Coronation Street as Daniel Osbourne since 2016, but what do we know about his personal life? The actor first appeared on the ITV drama in 2016, stepping into the shoes of Daniel, the offspring of legendary Ken Barlow (William Roache). Throughout the years, the character has encountered no shortage of compelling storylines.
Recent Storylines for Daniel Osbourne
Particularly recently, Daniel has endured a challenging period, beginning when he discovered the disturbing reality about his predatory partner Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon) grooming Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale). His world then descended into chaos when he fell victim to a vicious online harassment campaign, masterminded by Jodie Ramsay (Olivia Frances Brown).
Beyond the cobbles, however, actor Rob's existence isn't nearly as turbulent as his Weatherfield alter ego. But which two soap colleagues did he previously have romantic relationships with? And what is his real-life medical condition? Here's everything you need to know about Rob.
Rob's 'Deteriorating' Health Condition
Throughout the years, Rob has spoken candidly about living with an essential tremor—a hereditary neurological disorder impacting more than a million individuals across the UK. The condition is marked by uncontrollable shaking that primarily affects the hands, but can also impact the legs, head, and voice. Rob received his diagnosis at age 14 and chose to go public several years ago to boost awareness.
He explained: "I decided to be open about it, because it's just become harder and harder to hide. I think it's a lot more obvious than it is. There'll be scenes where I'll think my hand was shaking really badly. Then I'll watch it and you can't really see anything at all."
He also revealed his tremor might eventually need to become part of Daniel's storyline. He explained: "It's a progressive disease and it's worse now than it was ten years ago. So, there may come a point where it has to be incorporated into the character, because it will eventually get to the point where I can't hide it."
Rob's Romance with Cobbles Co-Star
During a 2017 interview with Gay Times, Rob openly revealed that he was gay. He had previously come out to his family at the age of 17 and stated that he "never planned to keep [his sexuality] quiet." Following his arrival on the ITV soap in 2016, the actor struck up a relationship with fellow cast member Daniel Brocklebank, who played Weatherfield vicar Billy Mayhew from 2014 to 2026. The couple made their relationship official when Rob claimed a British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2017.
Rob and Daniel's Split
However, just months later, Rob and Daniel ended their romance, with the pressure of juggling their work and personal lives given as the cause. A source told The Sun in July 2017: "It was a lot of pressure for both of them to be working on the same show and going out in the end something had to give. They decided to part ways a couple of weeks ago but they're still great friends and hope to remain that way." Rob then began a romance with Ben Perryman, though it petered out after six months in 2019. A spokesperson for Rob told The Sun: "Rob and Ben are no longer together. It was a mutual separation. Both would appreciate privacy in this personal matter."
Rob's Recent 'Split' from Co-Star
Fast forward to June 2023, and Rob went public with his romance with Matthew Martin at the British Soap Awards. The actor posted a photo of the pair together on the red carpet, captioning: "British soap awards 2023 with @mattmarcm," alongside a heart emoji. Matthew is also part of the acting community, and earlier this year appeared briefly on Coronation Street as a police officer who arrested Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) during a dramatic episode.
Nevertheless, this week, The Sun reported that Rob and Matthew had parted ways after four years as a couple. The newspaper claimed the performers now no longer follow each other on Instagram and have deleted nearly all images from their relationship on their social media accounts. Mirror has approached Coronation Street for comment.
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
