EastEnders stars Jessica Plummer and Ben Hardy have split after 18 months together after breaking up due to their busy schedules.
Jessica Plummer and Ben Hardy reportedly split after going public with their relationship in 2021.
The former EastEnders actors are said to have been victims of busy work schedules, leading them to ‘distance’ themselves.
Despite keeping the romance low-key, which reportedly began while filming The Girl Before together, the duo enjoyed a trip to Turkey last summer.
According MirrorSources close to Ben and Jessica say the couple have been too busy to keep their relationship afloat.
A source shared: ‘Ben and Jessica had a crush on each other, but the job meant they spent a lot of time apart.
It’s over: Former EastEnders stars Jessica Plummer and Ben Hardy have reportedly ended their relationship in a surprise breakup, after ‘driving apart due to busy schedules’
“Over time it has taken its toll and they recently decided to call it a day,” they continued.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ben and Jessica for comment.
Ben still follows his supposed ex-girlfriend on Instagram, but it seems that she doesn’t follow him anymore.
The split comes after it appeared they were still going strong in the summer of 2022 when they celebrated Ben’s 31st birthday six months late with a holiday in Turkey.
Ben and Jessica are EastEnders alumni, with the latter playing Chantelle Atkins from 2019 to 2022, while the former was a previous star of the show when he played Peter Beale from 2013 to 2015.
The couple then starred together in the four-part BBC drama The Girl Before, growing closer as they portrayed on-screen couple Simon and Emma.
After months of rumors circulating, they confirmed the romance shortly after appearing in the drama with a PDA display in central London.
Cuddling near a taxi after a night out with friends at Soho House, the couple looked very comfortable.
On screen: The couple starred together in the four-part BBC drama The Girl Before (pictured on show)
Social media: Ben still follows his alleged ex-girlfriend on Instagram, but it seems she doesn’t follow him anymore
It came shortly after it was reported that Ben had split with girlfriend Olivia Cooke earlier that year, with sources claiming that at that point their romance “fizzled out”.
It’s no surprise the couple have been inundated with work, as Ben starred in Hollywood movies like Bohemian Rhapsody and X-Men: Apocalypse following his departure from EastEnders.
While Jessica was ranked seventh in 2020’s I’m A Celebrity and shares a daughter, six-year-old Noa, with her ex-boyfriend.
Bond: It is believed that they became close while portraying the on-screen couple Simon and Emma.
