While his character Daniel Osbourne navigates turbulent storylines on the cobbles of Weatherfield, actor Rob Mallard's own romantic journey away from the cameras has been equally compelling. The star, who joined the ITV soap in 2016, has seen his personal life feature relationships with fellow actors, including a well-known co-star.
From On-Set Romance to a 'Difficult' Split
Rob Mallard publicly came out as gay in a 2017 interview with Gay Times, having first told his family at age 17. Shortly after joining the Coronation Street cast, he began a relationship with fellow cast member Daniel Brocklebank, who plays vicar Billy Mayhew.
The couple went public with their romance at the 2017 British Soap Awards, where Rob won Best Newcomer. In his heartfelt acceptance speech, he affectionately declared, "Even though this is fantastic, Dan, you're the best thing I've ever taken home."
However, the relationship ended just months later. An insider revealed to The Sun in July 2017 that the pressure of balancing their professional and personal lives on the same show led to the split. "It was a lot of pressure for both of them... They decided to part ways a couple of weeks ago but they're still great friends," the source explained.
Moving On: A New Chapter and Latest Love
Following his split from Brocklebank, Rob Mallard had a six-month relationship with Ben Perryman in 2019, which ended mutually. His representative confirmed the separation at the time, requesting privacy for both individuals.
The actor's love life took a happier turn in June 2023, when he officially debuted his relationship with actor Matthew Martin at the British Soap Awards. Rob shared a red-carpet photo of the couple on social media, captioning it with a heart emoji.
Matthew Martin, also an actor, made a cameo appearance on Coronation Street earlier in 2023, playing a police officer who arrested Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney). Celebrating his debut on the show in February, Matthew posted an Instagram photo with Rob, thanking him for his support and for "showing me the ropes."
On-Screen Drama Mirrors Off-Screen Life
As Rob Mallard's character Daniel currently pursues a relationship with Megan (Beth Nixon) on screen, having shared their first kiss in an episode aired on December 4th, the actor appears content in his real-life partnership. His journey from a high-profile soap romance to a supportive relationship with a fellow performer highlights a personal narrative of growth and happiness beyond the famed cobbles.
Coronation Street continues to air on ITV1 and ITVX every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8pm.
