An Eastenders superfan is engaged to her very own Shirley Carter with her other half bearing a striking resemblance to the soap icon.
Anna Simpson, 32, met her wife-to-be Kerry on the school run at the beginning of 2018.
She had a crush on Eastenders character Shirley, played by Linda Henry, and when she met Kerry, 39, she couldn’t believe her luck.
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The couple have watched the TV show since they were children and love Shirley’s personality.
“Shirley is our favourite character because she doesn’t have a filter and she doesn’t care what people think of her. She’s just her,” Anna told What’s The Jam.
“We both started watching when we were children. Our parents used to watch it.
“Watching it with family sparked an interest and so did the storylines because they’re like real life.”
She added: “We have always loved Linda. We loved her in the ITV series Bad Girls, too.”
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It is the pair’s dream to go to Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, where the show is filmed.
And they would love one day to appear on the show together as a couple.
Anna, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, dreamed of finding someone in real life who is as down to earth as the iconic character.
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She said: “I always wanted to find someone who didn’t care what people think and who is down to earth like Shirley Carter, and I found that in Kerry.
“When we’ve had a rubbish day we can escape reality and watch the drama on Eastenders. It helps cheer us up.”
The couple, who have four children between them, are hoping to embark on a joint pregnancy journey.
Anna said: “We have found an amazing donor, who has an amazing family.
“They find time to bring us what we need and they’re the nicest people in the world.
“It’s amazing what they’re doing for us, words can’t even describe.
“We have both said that no matter what, we will stay positive through the journey because hopefully that will help others too.
“In our future we see us moving homes and having our babies, being married and a big happy family.”