12 November 2023 , 09:10
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Call The Midwife star Helen George was reportedly spotted leaving co-star Olly Rix's house last Sunday morning, further fuelling rumours of a romance between the two newly-single actors.
The pair's characters are linked romantically on-screen, with lovers Trixie Franklin and Matthew Aylward finally tying the knot in the season 12 finale earlier this year. The pair met at the start of the show when Trixie delivered Matthew's baby with his then-wife Fiona.
And now, the actors are said to be helping each other through their own real-life heartbreaks, with Olly seen at his home in West London, and Helen emerging a few hours later with a large bag. She left with her dog Charlie, before reportedly making the ten-mile journey back to her East London home.
Helen shares two children with ex Jack Ashton (Dave Benett/Getty Images for ATG)
Helen announced she and Jack had split in July (Getty Images)Olly, 36, split from his girlfriend of seven years, makeup artist Natasha Fagri, in July while 39-year-old Helen split from partner Jack Ashton in the same month after seven years together. According to The Sun on Sunday, an onlooker reported that Olly looked "relaxed", while Helen looked a "little dishevelled" when she left.
An insider said: "It's been a tricky year for both Helen and Olly. They have been spending a lot of time together on set, walking their dogs together and chatting a lot.
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"They both have respect for each other as actors and they are supportive of each other and dedicated to their roles on the drama. The changes in their relationships have caused a lot of upheaval."
A spokesperson for Helen told Mirror Online: "Yes, she went to visit a friend for a cup of tea - like all friends do - and as we have always said, there is nothing more to this."
Olly Rix is said to be helping Helen through her break-up (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Helen and her ex Jack met on the set of Call The Midwife in 2015, when he joined in 2014 as vicar Tom Hereward. Although she turned down his on-screen proposal, the pair fell for each other in real life while filming the 2016 Christmas Special in South Africa. Their daughter Wren was born in 2017, and their youngest, Lark was born in 2021.
In a statement at the time, Helen said: "Some months ago, we separated. Our two beautiful girls remain the focus and I respectfully ask for privacy for this next chapter."
A source told The Mirror that the couple had drifted apart romantically. They said: "Helen and Jack's decision to end their relationship has been amicable, and no one else is involved. They have just grown apart as a couple. Until now, only their closest friends and family have known what is going on, but in recent weeks it has been shared more widely.
"They are both incredibly committed to working together to be the best parents they can for their two daughters."
The Strictly contestant divorced ex-husband Oliver Boot after three years, just before she started her stint on the BBC dance competition in 2015.