'Coronation Street' star Richard Fleeshman gets engaged

LONDON, ENGLAND -  JULY 09:   Richard Fleeshman and Celinde Schoenmaker attend the press night after party for
Richard Fleeshman and Celinde Schoenmaker have announced their engagement. (Getty Images)

Former Coronation Street star Richard Fleeshman has announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Celinde Schoenmaker.

Fleeshman, who is best known for playing Craig Harris on the ITV soap between 2002 and 2006, proposed during a romantic safari holiday last week.

The actor announced the news on Instagram with a picture of the two of them and a caption which read: "Went to Africa with my girl. I'll be heading home with a Fiancée. Couldn't be happier."

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Fleeshman was congratulated by a number of famous faces including former Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley who commented: "Oh guys! Huuuuuge congratulations!!!!!"

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 07:  Richard Fleeshman attends The Olivier Awards with Mastercard at the Royal Albert Hall on April 07, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Richard Fleeshman used to star in 'Coronation Street'. (Getty Images)

Other former co-stars including Claire Sweeney and Nikki Sanderson also posted their congratulations to the couple.

The Only Way is Essex star Lucy Mecklenburgh also posted her congratulations: "Yay!!!!! congratulations you beautiful humans."

Schoenmaker later thanked everybody for their well wishes: "WOW! Thank you for all your wonderful messages! Really feeling all the love, we're having the time of our lives. Big love to you all from me and my FIANCÉ! Wooohooooooooooooow!!!"

Fleeshman initially rose to fame when he joined Coronation Street as a 12-year-old where he played Craig Harris for four years.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 16:  Actor Richard Fleeshman stands for pictures during 'The Last Ship' photocall at Northern Stage on March 16, 2018 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. Sting's Tony nominated musical which tells the story of Gideon Fletcher who returns home after seventeen years at sea to find that the local shipyard is closing and the community are struggling to stay together is having its UK premiere in Newcastle at Northern Stage before touring the UK.  (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
Richard Fleeshman performs on stage. (Getty Images)

The year he left the soap, Fleeshman appeared on Soapstar Superstar, a singing competition which he won.

Fleeshman then began a West End career appearing in productions of Ghost, Company and Legally Blonde. He has also made a number of TV appearances, most recently in Netflix's hit show The Sandman where he plays Ken.

Fleeshman has also starred in Call the Midwife, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Reign where he played Francis Drake.

Fleeshman's mother Sue Jenkins also starred in Coronation Street as Gloria Todd between 1985 and 1988. She later starred in Brookside as Jackie Corkhill between 1991 and 2001.

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