Emmerdale brothers Kris Mochrie and Max Parker go official as real life couple

Former Emmerdale star Kris Mochrie has spoken for the first time about dating his soap co-star Max Parker.

On screen they were brothers in the Dales, but since leaving the show Kris, who played rapist Lee Posner in Emmerdale last year, has got together with Max who played Luke Posner.

The pair posted photos on social media going on holiday together earlier this month but have never spoken about their relationship.

Kris said: “It’s great to meet someone through work and have so many things in common and an understanding of each other’s jobs.

“We didn’t actually share any scenes together on Emmerdale but kept in touch after I left.

“I don’t want to jinx things. We are seeing how we get on. We had a great time on holiday in Dubai. Let’s see how it goes.”

Kris, now 34, spoke about the relationship as he prepares to feature in a BBC documentary this week about an extraordinary Liverpool hotel where he works, which he says helped him come out as gay when he was 31.

Kris is one of the stars of four part series The Grand Party Hotel which focuses on the crazy Shankly hotel which has drag queens checking you in, suites that sleep up to 24 people and naked butlers.

Kris, a senior director at the hotel, said: “Growing up in Liverpool I wrongly assumed that being gay was stripping every ounce of masculinity you had.

“I wanted to be like The Rock and I thought that’s what men had to be like. It was actually that toxic mantra that stopped me coming to terms with my sexuality. When I joined The Shankly four years ago and seeing the characters there and seeing everybody be who they want to be made me realise the world is a much more accepting place and your level of masculinity has no bearing on who you are.

“You got drag queens checking people in and people behind the desk who are larger than life – who own who they are and don’t care if people judge them. It’s a nice environment.

“Working there was a real turning point in my life. I wish I could go back and tell young Chris, ‘It’s not that bad’.”

Kris, who also starred in Brookside in 2002, says he hopes to combine working at the hotel with his acting dreams going forward. He continued to work there during his stint on Emmerdale from April until October 2019.

His off-screen boyfriend Max has played Luke in the soap since last August and after a rocky start to life in the village following the acts of his deceased brother Lee, who was killed by Robert Sugden (Ryan Hauley) he has found his footing and is now Chef at The Woolpack.

On the doc, Kris said: “We are delighted that the BBC chose the Shankly Hotel for its new documentary series.

“We all have a fascination with what goes on inside hotels. This documentary will give viewers a fun sneak peek inside the world of The Shankly Hotel and how our guests like to party and celebrate in style with memorable occasions and defining moments in their lives.”

* The Grand Party Hotel starts Thursday at 8pm on BBC One