They’ve been together for more than eight years after being introduced by her niece.
And Michelle Collins cut a casual figure as she stepped out with beau Mike Davison, 37, for a dog walk in North London on Wednesday.
The former EastEnders and Coronation Street actress, 59, looked relaxed as she sipped on her drink and strolled along the street in a warm black winter jacket.
Winter stroll: Michelle Collins, 59, cut a casual figure as she stepped out with beau Mike Davison, 37, for a dog walk in North London on Wednesday
Michelle paired her coat with some black leggings and a warm beanie hat as well as a pair of white trainers, perfect for leisurely walking around the city.
She ensured to take a mask with her amid the capital’s Tier 4 restrictions and tucked it under her chin while getting her drink.
Mike also kept things low-key in a brown jacket and black body warmer which he paired with jeans.
He was in charge of holding their adorable dog Peggy’s red lead during the walk, with the pup also staying warm in a sweet blue jumper.
Quick break: The actress wrapped up warm in a black jacket and leggings
The pair began dating in late 2012, after they were set up by Michelle’s niece, who is said to have worked for Mike at a retail store.
At the time that rumours began to swirl about their romance, Michelle was coy about confirming things, though she couldn’t help but gush about being in love.
She said: ‘I don’t want to tempt fate by talking about my personal life.
‘I want to avoid the curse of celebrity magazines, where as soon as people reveal how blissfully in love they are it all falls apart! All I’ll say is I’m enjoying life right now.’
The relationship mirrors Michelle’s former Corrie storyline, where she played Stella Price from 2011 to 2014, in which she indulged in a steamy romance with a then 29-year-old Jason Grimshaw, played by Ryan Thomas.
Michelle has never been married, but has a 23-year-old daughter Maia Rose from her relationship with Fabrizio Tassalini who passed away in 2014.
She has also been in relationships with cameraman Mark Waters and Parry Cockwell, to whom she was engaged before the pair called off their wedding and split in 2005.
The actress, who is perhaps best known for her portray of Cindy Beale on EastEnders in the 90s, has kept relatively out of the spotlight during the pandemic however did spark two debates on Twitter during lockdown.
Proud mum: Michelle sparked a Twitter debate back in March when she revealed her daughter Maia had gone to a private school (pictured together at her graduation in 2019)
Debate: She explained how she couldn’t ‘believe the nastiness on Twitter’ about the revelation
In March, she revealed she had been ‘bullied and vilified’ for choosing to privately educate her daughter.
Michelle said she’d been heavily criticised on the social media platform educating daughter Maia, now 23, away from the state school system.
The celebrity told her 191,000 followers that she had been left staggered at the ‘nastiness’ on Twitter in response to her speaking about why she wanted to pay for Maia’s education.
Furore: She also took to Twitter in July to explain that she ‘had to step over’ the person on the pavement in London, sparking another debate with her followers
Raising awareness: Some followers slammed Michelle for not helping the man, while others said she was doing good for calling out the problem
While in July Michelle was involved in another Twitter spat after she shared a picture of a homeless man she ‘had to step over’ in London.
She wrote: ‘I’m not sure if this is voyeurism but I had to take this picture of a man in a sleeping bag in Highgate on the pavement (very affluent area) at 12.30. He was fast asleep and I had to step over him. I felt quite disgusted that this is happening.’
People flocked to Twitter to share their thoughts on the post, with some slamming Michelle for not doing more to help the man.
However others supported her, with one penning: ‘I wouldn’t call this voyeuristic Michelle. I’d say you’re calling out something that is sad, unacceptable and heartbreaking.’
Actress: Michelle is perhaps best known for her portray of Cindy Beale on EastEnders in the 90s (pictured in 2019)