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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV Corrie's Harriet Bibby tells on-screen boyfriend she 'loves him lots' after celebrating his birthday

Coronation Street star Harriet Bibby was among the many cast members to share a birthday tribute to relative newcomer James Craven as he celebrated his 21st birthday. The actor joined the ITV soap earlier this year as Aaron. He attended the same diabetes support group as Summer Spellman, played by Harriet, and the pair hit it off.

But Summer was soon crushed when her new friend said he didn't want to see her anymore. It came after he rushed off in the middle of a deep conversation in which Summer opened up about her struggle with her body image. He tried to tell her she was 'gorgeous' but the future uni student bravely spoke about her eating disorder, clearly wanting to be honest before starting their romance.

After the teen ended up in hospital, Aaron paid her a visit and apologised for previously rejecting her. But it wasn't until later that he too suffered from an eating disorder. The pair then decided to give their romance another shot and have since planned to holiday together and got jobs to afford to jet off.

READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street star Duggie Brown dies aged 82 as comedian Tommy Cannon leads tributes

Off-screen, a close friendship has blossomed between James and Harriet, who has played Summer in Corrie since 2020. She appeared to be the last of his pals to send him birthday wishes on Monday (August 15). The 24-year-old soap star took to her Instagram Story to share a collage of photos of the pair together.

One showed the pair tucking into ice pop on the famous cobbles while others showed them enjoying life away from work with their co-stars Elle Mulvaney and Jack James Ryan. Happy bloody birthday to my main guys," she wrote alongside the selection of images.

Harriet's birthday tribute to her on-screen boyfriend (Instagram)

Adding two blue hearts, she continued: "Hope you had a day as fabulous as you. Love you lots." Harriet then clarified: "Just in time because I've been out celebrating with you."

Elle also took to her Instagram Story to share a variety of images of them together. A few were taking at the soap's recent summer party which took place last month at The Ivy and another showed the pair looking casual while playing laser quest.

"Happy Birthday James!! Hope you have the best day ever," she wrote in the middle of the images. "Here's to many more years of beating you at laser question," the Amy Barlow actress cheekily added. Jack James, who plays Amy's boyfriend Jacob Hay in the soap, joined in the with the public birthday wishes.

Jack James Ryan and James pose for the camera (Instagram)

He posted a snap of the pair at the aforementioned summer party. It showed the pair posing for the camera in matching white shirts. "Happy Birthday Bromeo," Jack shared. "@james.t.crave, blue steel always," he added referring to their camera skills.

Kelly Neelan star Millie Gibson, meanwhile, shared an unseen snap of herself and James alongside Harriet, Tanisha Gorey (Asha Alahan), Mollie Gallagher (Nina Lucas), Jane Hazlegrove (Bernie Winter) and Patti Clare (Mary Taylor).

"Happy Birthday poser.." the 18-year-old soap star wrote as James could be seen just in the back of the shot giving his best pout for the camera.

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