It has been reported that Ben Freeman, a married ex-Emmerdale actor, has been having an affair with his West End co-star Gina Beck.

Pictures emerged of the soap star brazenly kissing and cuddling Wicked actress Gina Beck.

The couple have been lovers since meeting in the West End production Wicked, according to the Daily Mail, and have “enjoyed sneaking around behind Ben’s wife’s back,” former Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Biddall.

Insiders believe the couple has been having trysts behind Ben’s wife Jennifer Biddall’s back since the beginning of the year. Jennifer Biddall is the mother of Ben’s 15-month-old baby.

According to insiders, the rest of the cast is uncomfortable with the couple’s romance, which they have made clear during rehearsals.

“It seems discretion hasn’t been something either of them have been concerned about,” a source told a UK tabloid. “It is no surprise they were caught. This has all been behind Jennifer’s back, she had no idea.”

“There were no signs of the marriage in trouble. They were blissfully happy and everyone thought they were the real deal and would last forever. The marriage definitely was not over.”

Jennifer, 31, chose to marry Ben in 2008, two years after he was involved in a sex controversy in which he was accused of rapping a 16-year-old girl while on vacation in Barbados. He was later found not guilty.

‘It is no surprise they were caught,’ a source told The Daily Star. ‘This has all been behind Jennifer’s back, she had no idea.’

‘There were no signs of the marriage in trouble. They were blissfully happy and everyone thought they were the real deal and would last forever. The marriage definitely was not over.’

Ben’s Twitter bio reads, “currently having the best time playing ‘Fiyero’ in Wicked at the Victoria Apollo,” indicating that the two have been spending a lot of time together since commencing work on the show.

“Spending most of my time as G(a)linda in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre,” Gina’s reads.

Ben began preparations for his part at the end of October and debuted on stage in January.

“He hasn’t been in the show very long, he can’t have known Gina for more than three months,” our insider stated.