ITV Coronation Street: Real life of Kate Connor star Faye Brookes - 'lifequakes' and celebrity engagement

Faye Brookes is best known for her time on the legendary soap, Coronation Street. The star first appeared on the cobbles as barmaid and restaurant manager Kate Connor in 2015 - when ITV bosses chose to extend the Connor clan.

The 34-year-old, from Stretford, went on to win Best Newcomer for her portrayal of Kate in 2017 at the National Television Awards. But two years later, the actress chose to leave Corrie behind.

Faye started out in musical theatre before TV, which is where she met her ex-fiancé, Gareth Gates, of Pop Idol fame. Here is a look at her life off-screen.

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Before her time on Coronation Street, Faye had various roles in theatre productions, including Grease and The Sound of Music. While she appeared as lead Elle Woods in Legally Blonde The Musical in 2012, she met singer Gareth Gates, who played the role of her character's boyfriend.

At the time, the Pop Idol runner-up had announced he had split from his wife after 'growing apart'. Then just 10 months later, Gareth and Faye made their first public appearance together as a couple.

"From the moment I met him he was writing songs for me... it’s beautiful," she told the Manchester Evening News in October 2015. Faye claimed their relationship was 'like no other' and said she needed to keep them 'well-protected'.

The keen performers set up their own stage school together - Fates Academy - at the University Technical College (UTC) at MediaCityUK in 2017. The relationship then hit a rocky patch the following year when they split for the first time, with Gareth explaining they were "choosing to take some time apart"