Inside Hollywood actor Ben Hardy and ex EastEnders star Jessica Plummer’s romantic holiday in Turkey

THEY grew close last summer as they filmed The Girl Before and it seems Ben Hardy and Jessica Plummer’s romance has gone from strength to strength.

The loved-up couple have just returned from a holiday in Turkey to belatedly celebrate Ben’s 31^st birthday.

The actor, who played Ian Beale’s son Peter on EastEnders, shared a series of snaps from their trip as they stayed in an exclusive villa together.

In the pictures the couple are seen messing about in the water, enjoying delicious food and going for boat rides.

At one point a cake arrives for Ben and Jessica can be heard singing for him while he looks embarrassed.

He captioned the shots: “The best fake birthday holiday I’ve ever had 😎#clubprivebyrixosgocek #rixosmoments #rixospremiumgocek #göcek #rixoshotels.”

Jessica, who played tragic Chantelle Atkins in the soap, also shared a picture from the trip as she lounged on a lilo in her bikini.

The former soap stars met while playing a couple in the psychological drama - which focuses on two women, Jane and Emma [Jessica], whose stories intertwine as the mysterious truth behind a stunning home built by an enigmatic architect is revealed.

Since quitting EastEnders in 2015, Ben has gone on to crack Hollywood, with roles in X Men: Apocalypse, Bohemian Rhapsody and Netflix movie 6 Underground with Ryan Reynolds. 

However, he didn’t overlap with Jessica, 28, on the soap as she only joined for a year as Chantelle before being killed off by her evil serial killer husband Gray in 2020.

She appeared on I’m A Celebrity, coming 7th and shares a daughter Noa, 6, with her ex boyfriend.