Hollyoaks star reveals engagement and flashes diamond ring after cancer battle

HOLLYOAKS star Abi Phillips has announced her engagement to her partner of 11 years.

The stunning actress’ engagement news comes after her cancer diagnosis last year.

Abi, 28, shared her very exciting engagement news with her legion of fans, as she flashed her ring.

The star cuddled up to her new fiancé as they posed with stunning Italian settings in the background.

She wrote: “So this happened last night!

“The most magical week in Lake Garda, with my favourite person in the world ended with us getting engaged.

“The most perfect proposal at sunset at the edge of the lake.”

Abi, who could be seen with her long highlighted locks down in a beautiful blue patterned dress, continued: “The last 11 years together have been the best of my life and I’m so looking forward to forever together.

“Thank you for making this trip the most incredible week, it will forever hold a place in my heart.

“I love you so much!”

As well as her stunning engagement selfie with her beau, Abi also showed off a close up of her ring.

The star also posted a snap of the gorgeous surroundings, and a selfie from the hotel balcony as she held the ring to her chest.

Abi's pals and fans rushed to the comments to share their messages of congratulations.

One wrote: "Congratulations you two!! How amazing. so happy for you both xxx"

Another person penned: "Eeeeeeek!!!! Congratulations guys!!! So happy for you," while a third echoed: "Fantastic news, congrats!"

Abi made her big break after writing the song Missing You for soap opera Hollyoaks, which proved to be popular with viewers when it was featured in Steph Cunningham's death scene.

Following the positive response to the track, Hollyoaks bosses arranged a meeting with Abi and invited her to audition for the part of Liberty Savage - a musical character.

She debuted as Liberty Savage at the age of 16 in December 2010.

In July 2013, the star decided to quit acting to pursue her lifelong ambition to make it big in the music industry.

Her character returned in 2018, being played by Jessamy Stoddart.

On May 9, 2022, Abi took to Instagram to share with her 12,000 followers that she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Alongside a collection of selfies the star posted of herself wearing a hospital gown, she wrote:  "So, I took these pictures before my scans and after my biopsy having a good old laugh about how ridiculously dressed up I looked in the hospital before a gig, not expecting for one moment to get the news that I did two weeks later."

The actress went on to explain how she had previously visited doctors to get two lumps in her neck tested, but was told there was nothing wrong.

However, she wanted to get a second opinion for "peace of mind".

Abi continued: "I'd previously been sent away from the doctors after having found two lumps in my neck, they'd passed it off and said I was 'young' and it wouldn't be anything and I was 'probably getting over a cold' or my body was 'fighting something off'.

"As much as that's what I wanted to hear I wanted to get everything checked for my own peace of mind."

After meeting with a specialist, she was told that the lumps were a cause for concern and that she would require surgery and radiotherapy.

She shared: "Fast forward two weeks and just before Easter weekend I had an appointment to see a consultant at the QE hospital who sat me down and told me that I had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and that I would need surgery and radiotherapy treatment.

"I never thought I would be told that I have cancer at the age of 28, you never think it's going to happen to you.

"I wouldn't have taken things further with seeing a specialist if I hadn't seen @demijones1 post as her lumps were in the exact same place as mine."