Couple's life plans changed after chance meeting with ITV Emmerdale star

A “twist of fate” prompted a man to make an impromptu decision and get down on one knee. Steve O’Donnell, 57, from Newton-Le-Willows met his now fiancée, Debbie Cunningham, on a night out in Warrington.

After briefly crossing paths on the street, fate brought them together again later in the evening when they agreed to meet for a date the next day. And the rest is history.

Steve, who was out with his son when he first met Debbie, 54, said: “After a little while in a bar my son said, ‘dad that lady at the bar is looking at you, proper looking at you’. I turned around and our eyes met. I loved the way she was looking at me.

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“I waved her over and we began talking. Bravado had set in after a few drinks so I plucked up the courage to ask her out. She responded by asking me to wait until I was sober, with a cheeky smile. I texted her the next day and we arranged to meet up near where she worked. We couldn't stop looking at each other and chatting. We’ve never looked back.”

But it was when the pair of Emmerdale fanatics took a trip to the ITV village in Harewood, Leeds, for a set tour, that a twist of fate took their relationship to the next level. Steve got down on one knee and popped the question to Debbie on the steps of The Woolpack pub.

Steve hadn't planned to propose until later in October but he says fate urged him to scrap his best laid plans and propose in the heart of Emmerdale, surrounded by a crowd of guests.

The decision came after cast member Leyla Harding, actress Roxy Shahidi, surprised the tour guests with a mystery cast member meet and greet. Leyla’s on-screen character is a wedding planner and owns Take a Vow on the show.

Spurred on by this twist of fate, Steve felt like it was the perfect moment and an opportunity not to be missed, so he changed his plans and popped the question there and then. He said: “We have been avid Emmerdale fans for as long as we can remember and Debs has always told me that a tour of the village is on her bucket list.

“The day was just meant to be a nice day out for us learning about the show and meeting one of the stars but it took a surprise turn I couldn’t possibly have seen coming.

“Initially, I had planned to ask for her hand in marriage over a family dinner at the end of October but when it was revealed that Leyla from Take a Vow was our mystery cast member, it felt as if fate was giving me a nudge.” Steve and Debbie are set to be wed next autumn.