She has been wowing us with her skating skills on Dancing On Ice, and now Faye Brookes has opened up about the man who has been her cheerleader away from the rink for the very first time.
Exclusively for OK! VIP members, Coronation Street star Faye and her personal trainer boyfriend Joe Davies have spilled on their romance in their first shoot and interview together and revealed they are planning marriage and children for the future.
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You couldn’t find a more loved-up duo than Dancing On Ice favourite Faye Brookes and her boyfriend Joe Davies.
And when we exclusively catch up with the couple after their first-ever shoot together, they can’t keep their hands off each other!
The former Coronation Street actress, who is partnered with skating pro Hamish Gaman, has had an incredible experience in the ITV competition show so far and topped the leader board after her impressive first skate.
But despite being the bookies’ favourite to win, Faye admits she’s not convinced she could go all the way.
“It’s the most rewarding job I’ve ever had,” she tells us. “And Joe knows how much it would mean to me to win.”
Just over a year ago, Faye, 33, and personal trainer Joe, 27, became friends after meeting at a gym in Manchester. Their solid friendship quickly turned into love, and although most of their time spent together has been in lockdown, it’s clear they’re madly in love.
“Not only is he my best friend, but he’s the best cheerleader,” Faye says of Joe.
Here, the pair – who share adorable pups Bear and Bao – discuss how they met, reveal if wedding bells are on the cards and talk about being each other’s biggest support…
So guys, was it love at first sight?
Joe: It wasn’t actually. We met through a mutual friend. I worked at Barry’s Bootcamp in Manchester and my colleague Amy, who used to be Faye’s trainer, introduced the two of us.
Faye: He didn’t know who I was when I walked in. I loved that though. Joe was covering Amy’s class one day and from then on we were living in each other’s pockets, because we were just friends. All of our friends knew each other.
How did it progress to more than friends?
Faye: Our friends started to say, “Something’s happening, because no one has ever looked at you the way Joe’s looking at you.” I was like, “What?” He was the best friend I wasn’t looking for and became the missing part of the puzzle. He just made my life so much easier.
Joe: Without looking for a relationship…
Faye: It became one.
Joe: My parents fell in love with Faye before they’d met her. Friends and family told me I loved Faye before I told her.
You seem really happy! Have you ever had an argument?
Joe: It’s human nature to argue.
Faye: Every couple has got to have their disagreements. But what I love about when we have any sort of confrontation is that we have a mutual respect for each other. We listen to each other.
If Joe wasn’t the kind of guy who listened to me it would be difficult. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a relationship that’s this effortless. Joe makes everything a lot less stressful. There’s been times when I have to leave, and Joe is holding the fort at home and taking care of the dogs. It gives me complete comfort to know he’s just my man and he’s got this. He takes control of everything and there’s complete trust.
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And you’ve got through a year of lockdowns together!
Faye: That definitely solidified us as a pair. There were days where I would fall apart and not know what was going to happen next and you question everything. I didn’t know how to deal with that and there’s no one else around but the person you are spending that time with.
Joe: We relied on each other.
Faye: If you fell apart I had you, and I had your back. That was so beautiful about the past year and something I will never take for granted again. We got faced with every single challenge you could think of. The first year was like, “Wow, if we can get through this we can get through anything!”
Is there an engagement on the cards?
Faye: I would love to get married and I know Joe would too, but right now we love our lives and there is no pressure. There is enough pressure on the world to get through this pandemic.
Joe: There’s a huge future ahead for both of us and we’re on our own journey.
Faye: We’re not rushing into anything.
But would you want a big wedding?
Faye: Did you see my VT and the closeness I have with my dad and my family? They are everything and I’d always want them to be a part of it, and I adore Joe’s family and we have a great group of friends.
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It’s going to have to be a big wedding! As much as we’d love it to be intimate and have our parents there as witnesses, there are too many important people in our lives.
Have you spoken about having children?
Faye: We’ve got our fur babies and we’re very career-driven. There’s always the talk when you’re in a loving relationship and those little conversations, but we haven’t made any plans. I have no idea when that will happen and I don’t want to plan it.
Joe: There are other things that we’re working towards and there will be a time and a place for everything in life.
Faye, you’ve been amazing on Dancing On Ice. Why did you say yes to doing the show?
Faye: I always said I never wanted to do it. I always said my face was my job and I’m scared I might fall on it! But we went through this crazy past year and it was the first opportunity that came up and I didn’t bat an eyelid. Since I said yes, I’ve completely fallen head over heels in love with the sport. I eat, sleep and breathe the ice.
What’s it like watching her, Joe?
Joe: I only watched Faye once before we went into lockdown and after that I couldn’t go into the rink. So [during her first skate] I was here with the dogs and telling them how well their mummy was doing. I got a bit tearful.
Faye: My heart is in this competition now – it’s not just a show. The pressure is on.
Joe: I’m going to do my best to remind a certain someone to treat it like a roller coaster. A bad week doesn’t mean a bad show.
Faye: [Smiling] Isn’t he amazing?
Is Joe a great support to you through this?
Faye: I love his calming energy and it’s something I know I need. I’m so enthusiastic about absolutely everything and he’s very level-headed and grounded. He keeps me very present!
Do you and your skating partner Hamish get on well?
Faye: He’s like a big brother. He completely respects my work ethic and he can see I want to be a pure professional. He’s a perfectionist to the point where he’s like, “OK, we just need to enjoy it now.” But I kind of love that. I think he’s the perfect partner for me. I asked for a taskmaster and I got one.
He had a difficult series last year and his partner Caprice Bourret eventually left the show…
Faye: I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch last year. I don’t know what went down and I’m glad, because it means Hamish has come into this series with a complete fresh start and I’m coming at it as a complete amateur. I know Hamish must have gone through a lot last year, but what he’s trying to do is give me the best experience – and he is.
Because you’ve done so well, is the pressure on?
Faye: The pressure is on! Hamish and I are both perfectionists. We both want the very best out of this competition. We both want to do well and we’re both quite hard on ourselves. But my mantra is to just enjoy it and live in the moment, because you never know when it’s your last skate.
The show’s already lost big stars like Myleene Klass and Denise Van Outen. Was that tough?
Faye: Denise was an absolute superstar to have gone and performed on the ice [after her shoulder injury]. We’ve all probably had a scare and it’s not easy. It’s such a shame we’ve lost her so soon, but I know she did the right thing for her.
Do you think you can win?
Faye: I still don’t believe I can, because I honestly think it could be anyone’s!
What would it mean to you to win?
Faye: It would mean everything, because I’ve fallen in love with the show and the skill.
You’ve been open about struggling with anxiety, Faye. How have you found the past year?
Faye: Lockdown one and two were not great. A lot of things were put on hold, Joe was busier than ever and for me it was really hard. I was in limbo. I feel like my job is my purpose and I started to doubt myself. This time round, in lockdown three, I’m so glad to have my purpose back. Not only is it [Dancing On Ice] challenging physically, but it’s helping me mentally.
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Have you struggled with anxiety while training?
Faye: It takes your mind off any kind of worry. When you’re not working and not doing what gives you purpose in life, you start to let those voices in your head take over.
If I didn’t have my support system, such as Joe, my family and Joe’s family, guiding and comforting me when I’m at my lowest, I don’t know where I’d be.
I’m very fortunate that I’m with somebody that is not only my best friend that I can talk to, but also opens up back. He’s not your average Joe! He’s not like any other guy – he’s the most mature man I’ve ever met.
We loved you in Corrie as Kate Connor. Are you excited to make a return to acting after Dancing On Ice?
Faye: My journey at Corrie was open-ended, so that’s possibly something I could go back to and if there was an opportunity, I would. Who knows what the future holds!
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