Coronation Street’s Glenda Shuttleworth has endured her share of romantic disasters on the cobbles, but actress Jodie Prenger’s real-life love story couldn’t be more different.

Jodie made her debut on the beloved ITV soap in 2022, arriving in Weatherfield as Glenda Shuttleworth, daughter of Archie (Roy Hudd) and sister to George (Tony Maudsley).

 

 

Since her arrival, she’s become a beloved character and has found her feet in Weatherfield, securing employment at The Rovers Return. Yet Glenda’s romantic endeavours have been far from smooth sailing, including a brief romance with Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell).

Off-screen however, Jodie is betrothed to businessman Simon Booth, whom she began courting in 2010 following years of friendship.

Back then, Jodie expressed her delight at finding Simon after numerous romantic disappointments. She revealed to Belfast Telegraph: “In real life I’ve been like a magnet to prats and Peter Pans who’ve caused me problems!”, reports the Mirror.

“It’s funny really because I’m a real Mills and Boon romantic girl who believes in love, but even I was starting to give up. I said to my mum, ‘do you think it’s my fault, do I make these men go loopy?””.

Jodie then discussed her relationship with Simon, saying: “I’ve known him as a friend for a long while and we started dating about six months ago. He’s wonderful, sensitive and it just hits you like a ton of bricks when you meet someone who ticks all the right boxes.”

Building on their blossoming romance, Jodie and Simon became engaged in 2012. Reflecting on that memorable occasion, she shared with The Sunday Post in 2017: “It was St Patrick’s Day 2012 in an Irish oyster bar.

“That year I’d been invited to Buckingham Palace on St Valentine’s Day for Charles Dickens’ bicentenary alongside Cameron, Rowan Atkinson and lots of others. I had it in my mind Simon was going to propose on the day I’d met the Queen.

“We went to the restaurant but he didn’t ask, which was a real shock. But when we were back on St Patrick’s Day, at the same table, when I wasn’t expecting it, he proposed.”

She continued: “I found out he had actually had it all prepared a while before in Ireland with a choir booked and everything and had to cancel it when I had to fly to Australia to film the I’m A Celebrity spin-off show.”

Tragically, their joyous milestone was overshadowed by devastating news when Jodie’s father Marty passed away from kidney cancer in March 2012.

Naturally, Jodie experienced conflicting feelings during this period of her life. Speaking to Hello! magazine in 2012, she revealed: “I’m just so glad Dad knew I was going to be taken care of. Dad loved Simon like a son and always said I’d be safe with him. Simon’s a good man with a good soul, just like my dad.”

In recent times, the animal-adoring actress Jodie and Simon have relocated to a farm where they care for a variety of animals, including cows and chickens. She previously revealed to OK!: “I’m sure a nice calm life would be lovely, but I prefer to be outside feeding the chickens and the cows.

“I do love putting a posh frock on for a fancy social event, but I know what makes me happiest and that’s the animals, even if I am smelling of chicken poo half the time!”