How EastEnders fan ‘manifested’ six-year romance with soap crush
Kerry Scouler took a chance by messaging Lee Carter actor Danny Hatchard on social media – and the couple are still together six years later.
Danny-Boy Hatchard’s girlfriend has revealed how she turned an EastEnders crush into a six-year romance after taking matters into her own hands and messaging the soap star on social media.
The actor, 35, best known for playing Lee Carter in the BBC soap, has been dating Kerry Scouler since 2020 after she decided to contact him because she fancied him while watching him on television.
As The Sun has now revealed, six years later, the couple are still together and have begun giving fans a more regular glimpse inside their relationship through a joint Instagram account.
Kerry has now revealed the unlikely origins of their relationship in an Instagram video showing the couple cuddling together.
She wrote across the clip: “Me when I messaged Lee Carter from EastEnders cos I fancied him and we’re still together six years later.”
Kerry also captioned the post: “And that’s on manifestation ladies.”
The admission prompted an enthusiastic reaction from followers, with one writing: “This is iconic.”
Another said: “Happy you still are (together),” adding a red heart and laughing face emoji.
Kerry first shared a photograph of herself and Danny together during a holiday in Cyprus in December 2020, when the pair were pictured smiling as they cuddled on a boat.
She wrote alongside the photograph: “Truly blessed by you.”
Several months later, Kerry offered another glimpse into their relationship with footage of a romantic living room display featuring fairy lights, heart-shaped candles, flowers, a meal for two and a book containing memories from their time together.
Danny and Kerry largely kept their relationship away from social media in the years that followed, but have recently changed approach by creating a joint Instagram account and posting comedy sketches about life as a couple.
They began sharing the skits in July, while the biography on their joint account reads: “Two plonkers plonking.”
Danny remains most closely associated with EastEnders, having first arrived in Albert Square as Lee Carter in 2014.
Lee was introduced as the eldest son of Queen Vic landlords Mick Carter and Linda Carter, played by Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright.
The character returned to Walford after serving as a corporal in the British Army and became central to a major storyline involving depression as pressures surrounding money, employment and his personal life intensified.
Lee eventually left Albert Square in 2017, moving to Dover after his marriage to Whitney Dean, played by Shona McGarty, broke down.
Danny subsequently made several returns to the soap, including appearances in 2019 and 2020. He most recently reprised the role for a brief appearance in December 2024.
Away from Walford, Danny joined Michelle Keegan in the fourth series of BBC military drama Our Girl in 2020, playing Private Rhett “Cheese” Charlton.
He also appeared in the BBC drama Ridley Road and the 2014 crime film We Still Kill the Old Way.
More recently, Danny played Prince Charming in Cinderella at Norwich Theatre Royal during the 2025 pantomime season. In an interview with the theater, he also explained that he had begun professionally using Danny Hatchard rather than Danny-Boy Hatchard.
He said: “My name is Danny Hatchard. My real name is Danny-Boy Hatchard, but I decided to change it because I’m getting a little bit older now, and I felt like the ‘boy’ needed to go.”
His relationship with Kerry has also crossed into his professional life, with the pair photographed together at the Paul Strank Annual Charity Gala in London in September 2024.
