EastEnders actress and Love Island star confirm romance
The 33-year-old reality TV star, who rose to fame during the 2019 season of the ITV dating show, made things Instagram official with Rukku, 29, as they enjoyed a glamorous night out at the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois boxing match at Wembley Stadium.
The couple shared a series of affectionate snaps from ringside, leaving little doubt about their blossoming romance.
The duo first sparked dating speculation in October 2023 when they appeared together at the London premiere of Venom: The Last Dance. Since then, fans have kept a close eye on their social media accounts, but this marks the first time they've gone public with their relationship.
In the pictures, the pair looked loved up and inseparable, with Michael planting a kiss on Rukku's cheek and cuddling up to her as they watched the heavyweight fight.
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
Sharing the post with his 1 million followers, Michael captioned the moment: 'Her first official fight night 💥🥊 And what a night it was, here's to many more adventures 🌎'.
Rukku Nahar is no stranger to the spotlight. The British actress is best known for portraying Habiba Ahmed in EastEnders between 2019 and 2020.
Her character was introduced as the younger sister of Iqra Ahmed, and the duo made waves as the first Muslim sisters to own and operate a business in Albert Square.
Habiba was known for her fiery personality and romantic entanglements, including a controversial relationship with the much older Adam Bateman.
Rukku's departure from EastEnders in 2020 left fans disappointed, as her character left Walford abruptly following the breakdown of her relationship. Outside of Walford, Rukku has appeared in several popular UK television series, including Wolfblood, Doctors, and Flatmates, showing her versatility as an actress.
Despite stepping away from EastEnders, Rukku has continued to build her career in both television and film. Most recently, she's been linked to new projects and has hinted at expanding into international roles on social media, with fans eager to see her next move.
Michael, meanwhile, continues to be one of the most talked-about personalities from the Love Island franchise. His time on the show was filled with drama, particularly when he dumped fan-favourite Amber Gill in favour of Joanna Chimonides during the infamous Casa Amor twist. Viewers were outraged, but Amber ultimately went on to win the series with Greg O'Shea, and the nation's hearts.
Amber's post Love Island career has flourished. In addition to winning the £50,000 cash prize, she secured major brand deals with Misspap and Littlewoods, and has spoken openly about her experiences in the public eye. More Trending
She also made headlines for her relationship with Scottish footballer Jen Beattie, which lasted nearly a year before ending amicably in late 2023.
With both Michael and Rukku now thriving in their respective careers and seemingly in love, it looks like this reality star and soap actress duo could be a new power couple to watch.
As they continue to share glimpses of their romance with fans, many will be keeping a close eye on what's next for the pair, both on screen and off.
View More »
MORE: Emmerdale star Natalie J Robb reveals why she has never married after her 'world shattered'
MORE: Danny Miller in awe as he issues update on wife Steph after birth of third child
MORE: Coronation Street legend Maureen Lipman reveals difficulties she has on set
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
28 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Davina McCall ‘not afraid of dying' after brain tumour removed
In April, the 57-year-old confirmed her 'final MRI' had showed a colloid cyst, which she had removed in November 2024, is 'not coming back', after it was found when she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. McCall told Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: 'I am not afraid of dying anymore and it was the biggest journey of my life. From August 23 to November 24 was an amazing time where something changed. 'Begin Again, the podcast I started to help other people on their journey of living a life that they love enough to feel on their deathbed, whenever that may be, that I have no regrets. 'I have lived the life I wanted, and I'm not lying there going, 'I wish I'd done that thing, wish I'd done that job, I wish I'd not stayed in this relationship', all of those I haven't lived the life I want (things), and Begin Again is about just begin again and live the life you want.' McCall, who is a judge on ITV singing show The Masked Singer, said her only concern about death is how her family would cope. Speaking about the time her tumour was found, she added: 'I thought I need to get my brain in the right place and that was to a place where I could be calm, and what did I need to do to do that? Were my kids going to be okay if I didn't make it? That's all I really cared about. 'I knew Michael (Douglas, her partner), Michael's a whole person, Michael's Michael, but I was really worried about my kids. 'I went forensic on thinking about my children and where they were at in their life, what stage they were at. You're only as happy as your unhappiest child, right? 'I came to a realisation after about six months of cross-examining them about their life and telling them the whole time how much I've loved my life. My eldest daughter kept caught on. She was like, 'you are not dying', I was like, 'no, no, no', I realised that they would be great. 'They'd miss me and I want to be with them but they would be okay. I felt like I could go to sleep on the operating table and know that they were all here to help me, but I can let go of the outcome and it was the best gift. I am not afraid of dying.' After her surgery, McCall spent time in intensive care before recovering at home with the help of Douglas. She spoke about the removal of the tumour while co-presenting this year's Red Nose Day for Comic Relief and said it was 'the hardest thing I've ever been through'. According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, vision problems and drowsiness, and some can be 'difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue'. McCall, the host of reality dating show My Mum, Your Dad, has long advocated for women's health issues, and has presented a documentary called Sex, Myths And The Menopause and another on contraception called Davina McCall's Pill Revolution. She became an MBE in the King's birthday honours for services to broadcasting in 2023 and was given a special recognition gong at the National Television Awards in 2024 for her broadcasting career. The full interview can be listened to on the Happy Place with Fearne Cotton podcast.
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Davina McCall ‘not afraid of dying' after brain tumour removed
In April, the 57-year-old confirmed her 'final MRI' had showed a colloid cyst, which she had removed in November 2024, is 'not coming back', after it was found when she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. McCall told Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: 'I am not afraid of dying anymore and it was the biggest journey of my life. From August 23 to November 24 was an amazing time where something changed. 'Begin Again, the podcast I started to help other people on their journey of living a life that they love enough to feel on their deathbed, whenever that may be, that I have no regrets. 'I have lived the life I wanted, and I'm not lying there going, 'I wish I'd done that thing, wish I'd done that job, I wish I'd not stayed in this relationship', all of those I haven't lived the life I want (things), and Begin Again is about just begin again and live the life you want.' McCall, who is a judge on ITV singing show The Masked Singer, said her only concern about death is how her family would cope. Speaking about the time her tumour was found, she added: 'I thought I need to get my brain in the right place and that was to a place where I could be calm, and what did I need to do to do that? Were my kids going to be okay if I didn't make it? That's all I really cared about. 'I knew Michael (Douglas, her partner), Michael's a whole person, Michael's Michael, but I was really worried about my kids. 'I went forensic on thinking about my children and where they were at in their life, what stage they were at. You're only as happy as your unhappiest child, right? 'I came to a realisation after about six months of cross-examining them about their life and telling them the whole time how much I've loved my life. My eldest daughter kept caught on. She was like, 'you are not dying', I was like, 'no, no, no', I realised that they would be great. 'They'd miss me and I want to be with them but they would be okay. I felt like I could go to sleep on the operating table and know that they were all here to help me, but I can let go of the outcome and it was the best gift. I am not afraid of dying.' After her surgery, McCall spent time in intensive care before recovering at home with the help of Douglas. She spoke about the removal of the tumour while co-presenting this year's Red Nose Day for Comic Relief and said it was 'the hardest thing I've ever been through'. According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, vision problems and drowsiness, and some can be 'difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue'. McCall, the host of reality dating show My Mum, Your Dad, has long advocated for women's health issues, and has presented a documentary called Sex, Myths And The Menopause and another on contraception called Davina McCall's Pill Revolution. She became an MBE in the King's birthday honours for services to broadcasting in 2023 and was given a special recognition gong at the National Television Awards in 2024 for her broadcasting career. The full interview can be listened to on the Happy Place with Fearne Cotton podcast.
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Davina McCall ‘not afraid of dying' after brain tumour removed
In April, the 57-year-old confirmed her 'final MRI' had showed a colloid cyst, which she had removed in November 2024, is 'not coming back', after it was found when she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. McCall told Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: 'I am not afraid of dying anymore and it was the biggest journey of my life. From August 23 to November 24 was an amazing time where something changed. 'Begin Again, the podcast I started to help other people on their journey of living a life that they love enough to feel on their deathbed, whenever that may be, that I have no regrets. 'I have lived the life I wanted, and I'm not lying there going, 'I wish I'd done that thing, wish I'd done that job, I wish I'd not stayed in this relationship', all of those I haven't lived the life I want (things), and Begin Again is about just begin again and live the life you want.' McCall, who is a judge on ITV singing show The Masked Singer, said her only concern about death is how her family would cope. Speaking about the time her tumour was found, she added: 'I thought I need to get my brain in the right place and that was to a place where I could be calm, and what did I need to do to do that? Were my kids going to be okay if I didn't make it? That's all I really cared about. 'I knew Michael (Douglas, her partner), Michael's a whole person, Michael's Michael, but I was really worried about my kids. 'I went forensic on thinking about my children and where they were at in their life, what stage they were at. You're only as happy as your unhappiest child, right? 'I came to a realisation after about six months of cross-examining them about their life and telling them the whole time how much I've loved my life. My eldest daughter kept caught on. She was like, 'you are not dying', I was like, 'no, no, no', I realised that they would be great. 'They'd miss me and I want to be with them but they would be okay. I felt like I could go to sleep on the operating table and know that they were all here to help me, but I can let go of the outcome and it was the best gift. I am not afraid of dying.' After her surgery, McCall spent time in intensive care before recovering at home with the help of Douglas. She spoke about the removal of the tumour while co-presenting this year's Red Nose Day for Comic Relief and said it was 'the hardest thing I've ever been through'. According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, vision problems and drowsiness, and some can be 'difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue'. McCall, the host of reality dating show My Mum, Your Dad, has long advocated for women's health issues, and has presented a documentary called Sex, Myths And The Menopause and another on contraception called Davina McCall's Pill Revolution. She became an MBE in the King's birthday honours for services to broadcasting in 2023 and was given a special recognition gong at the National Television Awards in 2024 for her broadcasting career. The full interview can be listened to on the Happy Place with Fearne Cotton podcast.
