31 August 2023 , 09:46
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Lucy Benjamin, who is best known playing the role of Lisa Fowler on EastEnders, fast became a recognisable face in the soap world when she first shot to fame on BBC One soap back in 1998.
Played by Lucy, 53, Lisa's character was first introduced as a 'home-wrecking blonde' by executive producer Matthew Robinson in the late nineties. Throughout her time on the BBC One soap, Lucy's performance as the troubled Lisa won her a nomination for Most Popular Actress at the 2001 National Television Awards.
Two years after receiving the nomination, Lucy decided to part ways with Albert Square after being involved in arguably one of the biggest storylines in the soap's history. Known as 'Who Shot Phil?', the dramatic storyline centered on the shooting of her on-screen lover Phil Mitchell, and who, out of the many potential candidates, was responsible for attempting to murder him.
In the end, it was her character who was eventually revealed to be the shooter. After her successful five year stint on the BBC One soap, Lucy went on to appear in Casualty, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! and The X Factor: The Battle Of The Stars.
Throughout her stellar acting career, behind-the-scenes, Lucy has enjoyed quite a whirlwind romantic life. After meeting her husband of 17-years on a flight to Dubai, rumours are now rife that she and Richard Taggart have split.
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Here, we take a look at Lucy's life off-screen, including her marriage to Richard, their whirlwind wedding, and her co-star romance.
Whirlwind love story
Lucy and Richard were married for 17 years (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)
The couple welcomed two daughters together (Oliver Rudkin/REX/Shutterstock)The actress met her former husband Richard, an oil businessman while on a flight to Dubai. The couple instantly took a liking to one another and they instantly started dating.
Lucy, 53, and Richard went on to tie the knot on March 30, 2006, at Babington House in Somerset just nine months after they met onboard the flight that changed their lives.
The former couple's marriage was arranged in a rapid manner with Lucy saying she was "a bit pushy" as she was seven weeks pregnant when they tied the knot. Her pregnancy with her daughter Bessie Jo, 16, was announced on the first episode of The X Factor: Battle of the Stars on May 31, 2006, by Sharon Osbourne.
After welcoming Bessie Jo, Lucy and Richard later went on to welcome their second daughter, Rosie, who is now 12-years-old. After an unforgettable wedding and magical love story, reports now claim that after 17 years, Lucy and Richard have decided to go their separate ways after deciding that the best decision for them would be to split.
"Lucy and Richard tried to make it work but ultimately decided it was best they split up," a source told The Sun. The source went on to claim: "It's been rough for them both in recent months but hopefully they can now start looking forward to the future. Their children will always be their number one priority."
Speaking recently to the Mirror, Lucy offered an insight into life at her family home as she explained one reality show is completely banned. She said: "I've got two daughters, a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old. So Love Island isn’t on in our house. It doesn't sit comfortably with me. It's kids making out on TV and there's kind of this beautiful body image persona. Everyone looks like film stars. I don't think it puts out the right message."
Co-star romance
Lucy and Steve dated for four years off-screen (Press Association)
The couple were also lovers away from the soap (Rex Features)Before Lucy met Richard on that infamous flight to Dubai, she embarked on a romance with her EastEnders co-star, Steve McFadden.
On the soap, Lisa caught the eye of Steve McFadden's bad boy Phil Mitchell with the pair becoming one of the most famous soap couples of all time. However, in real life, actors Steve and Lucy found a romantic spark behind the scenes as well.
Striking up a real life romance, the soap stars dated for four years between 1999 and 2003. The pair went on to work together again several times as Lucy's Lisa made several re-appearances on the Square, including in 2010, 2017 and 2019-2020.
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Back in 2017 Lucy told the Loose Women panel: "It was more about the history between Lisa and Phil and there is so much water under the bridge with those two people.
"You just resort back to their storylines and the things they have gone through as characters. We didn't have to think about me and Steve and the old days. There is so much stuff between Lisa and Phil. It was easy to play that. It was strange really, but lovely to be working with Steve, Tish and Natalie Cassidy again. It was just like being with mates," she revealed.
EastEnders' Lisa Fowler and Phil Mitchell have a huge past (BBC)"They have been doing fabulous work and I knew that they would look after me and have my back upon my return," the actress added.
And Lucy looks back with fondness on her initial stint - proud of the fact that she was the one to pull the trigger on Phil. She told The Mirror in 2019 : "She always causes trouble. People ask me all the time to go back and sort Phil out.
"I'm proud to have been the person to have pulled the trigger in that iconic storyline – I know several have shot him since but I was first. It's incredible how people still remember it."