Sheridan and her latest love ... a married father of three
SHE is one of the hottest stars in showbusiness following her award-winning portrayal of Cilla Black on ITV.
Yet despite her growing fame, Sheridan Smith has long lamented that her heavy workload has made finding love difficult.
It emerged yesterday, however, that the 33-year- old actress has a new boyfriend – a married fatherof- three whose estranged wife is said to be ‘devastated’ at his new relationship.
Miss Smith, who has had success on stage as well as screen, is believed to be seeing Greg Wood, who appears in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.
Wood, 36, whose real name is Greg Milburn, split with his wife last year and reportedly waited only a few months before embarking on his relationship with Miss Smith.
The pair were spotted at the National Television Awards last Wednesday, where the actress won the best drama performance award for her portrayal of Miss Black.
Although they arrived separately, they were seen chatting in the smoking area and Wood was spotted with his arm around the actress.
Following the ceremony they headed to her North London home
‘It came as a real shock to her’
in what is reportedly the latest in a number of liaisons.
After news of their relationship broke at the weekend, Wood tweeted: ‘I am single, my ex and I separated last summer and are currently going through a divorce.’
His wife Catherine, 37, declined to comment yesterday outside her Stockport home.
But a source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘She was devastated when she realised he was dating Sheridan so soon after they split.
‘She found out in November that they were sending each other flirty messages on Twitter – she didn’t know things had gone any further. So it came as a real shock to her that they were dating.
‘ Her split from Greg was far from amicable, but they were together for a long time. The two of them aren’t even divorced yet, though they are going through the process.’
Wood moved out of the family home last summer and is believed to have taken up with Miss Smith shortly afterwards.
After her win at the TV awards, Miss Smith sent a picture to Wood on Twitter showing her kissing the trophy. He responded: ‘Well deserved babe, proud of you X.’
The pair also enjoyed a date at Liverpool restaurant Smuggler’s Cove and drew the attention of other diners with their public displays of affection.
A fellow patron tweeted: ‘ Had a lovely night at Smuggler’s Cove for 18th ... Seems that Sheridan Smith was hungry too. She nearly swallowed her partner.’
Miss Smith previously had a twoyear relationship with James Corden, her co-star in the popular BBC sitcom Gavin And Stacey, and later dated Scots actor Ross McCall and Amy Winehouse’s former partner Reg Traviss.
It seemed at one point as if Miss Smith, who was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours, had given up on finding love.
She said last year: ‘I’ve become a crazy dog lady from Crouch End. What man wants to take on three dogs as well as me? Dogs are more loyal than men. And they’re less trouble. I’m happy with the dogs.’
The actress blamed her heavy workload for her difficult love life, saying: ‘I’m enjoying working so much. People go, “Why are you single?”, but it’s because I actually love my job. I’m so grateful to be working.’
Representatives for Miss Smith yesterday declined to comment and Greg Wood did not respond to requests.