Hollyoaks’ Jennifer Metcalfe finds love with Liverpool playboy Joshua Cox

HOLLYOAKS beauty Jennifer Metcalfe has found love again with Scouse playboy Joshua Cox.

The actress, 38, has struck up a close bond with the buff lad from Hale in the past few weeks - but they are yet to make their blossoming relationship official.

While Jen, who play Mercedes McQueen in the hit Channel 4 soap, has kept Josh off her social media pages, the duo were seen locking lips on a night out in Manchester over the Bank Holiday weekend.

A source said: "It's early days but Jen is really happy.

"She's keen to take things slow but at the same time feels like her and Josh have something special.

"They haven't put a label on what they are and are just seeing where things go."

Josh previously hit the headlines after he enjoyed a fling with Annie Kilner while she was on a break from Manchester City player Kyle Walker.

In September 2020, The Sun told how Annie broke down in tears after confessing to romping with Josh.

Referencing Kyle's string of affairs, a source at the time said: “He’s getting a taste of his own medicine.”

Annie insisted she and Josh only got together after she and Kyle, 32, split in February after it emerged model Lauryn Goodman was pregnant with his child.

Jen has been single since last September after a short romance with Oldham Athletic player Chris Eagles, 36.

She was in a long-term relationship with former Geordie Shore star Greg Lake from 2013 until August 2020.

The couple have a four-year-old son Daye together who they successfully co-parent.

Jen previously said: "We made a decision from the start that we wanted this to be good for Daye. There was no bad energy [at the end] and I don't even like using the phrase 'split up'. We'll never be split, we're a family and always will be.

"Obviously it's had its ups and downs but I think when you have two good people who want to do the best for their child, there's no reason for it not to be just that. I'm really proud of how we both parent and put Daye's interests first."