Darren Day has revealed that he ended his relationship with Anna Friel in the late 1990s to pursue Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw, a decision that earned him a "love rat" reputation and led to a loss of fans.
The singer, 58, had been with Brookside actress Anna, 49, for three years before calling time on the relationship in 1997. Tracy, who played hairdresser Maxine Peacock on Coronation Street at the time, had caught his attention.
Meeting Tracy Shaw
Speaking on Best's Suddenly Single podcast, Darren said: "I met Tracy Shaw, who at that point was doing Coronation Street. There was [a little bit of crossing over]. I'll put my hands up to I'm not going to lie."
He added: "We met at the press night, and I was very taken. There's no doubt about it. I finished with Anna. Everyone was like 'How dare you,' but I'd already met Tracy."
The former Celebrity Big Brother star explained that his manager advised him not to be photographed with his new partner for the sake of his image. However, a few days later he went on a date with Tracy and the story appeared across the papers.
Fallout and fanbase loss
Darren, who was starring in Summer Holiday at the time, said he worried about performing that afternoon. He recalled: "Three days later, I went to the Hacienda in Manchester and I went with Tracy. And then the following week was when the Love Rat was born."
He added: "I'm reading this and I am getting more and more devastated the more I'm reading. But I said to my security guy, 'I've got to go on stage in two hours as Cliff Richard.' My audience was housewives and teenage girls. None of them would like this."
Following the news, the box office "took a hit" and he began to lose his fanbase, which he described as the "beginning of the end" in various ways.
Later relationships
Darren's relationship with Tracy led to an engagement, but the couple split shortly after in 1998. He reflected on fame, saying: "Yeah, you get famous and it is probably the best aphrodisiac for the, you know, opposite sex or same sex or whatever might be…I noticed the difference like instantly. You didn't have to chat anyone up anymore, you know. It just was it was there."
He later had a relationship with Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw, with whom he has a 21-year-old son, Corey. In 2020, Darren became engaged to Sophie Ladds, writing on X at the time: "Spot the difference! My girl @SophieLadds & I just got engaged. She rocks my world."
