Home and Away couple Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart’s real-life romance

Home and Away fan favourites Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart’s five-year on-screen love story has blossomed into a real-life romance.

Home and Away stars Ada Nicodemou and James Stewart’s five-year on-screen love story has blossomed into a real-life romance.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the couple’s fairytale TV relationship has extended off-screen, with the pair now quietly dating.

The news comes after it was revealed that Nicodemou, 46, secretly parted ways with Sydney businessman Adam Rigby at the end of last year, and that Stewart has divorced from his ex-wife, fellow actress Sarah Roberts.

Prior to that he dated Australian actress Jessica Marais, with whom he has a daughter named Scout.

Nicodemou was married to Chrys Xipolitas for nine years but are believed to have split briefly in 2010, before reconciling and welcoming a son named Johnas in August 2012.

James Stewart and Ada Nicodemou on the set of Home and Away.

Rumours of a romance first came to light late last year when Nicodemou and Stewart were spotted kissing at a Seven Network Christmas party.

Most recently they were seen at the movies, holding hands and showing public displays of affection with one another.

The couple have taken their on-screen love into the real world.

On the set of Home and Away.

“They weren’t really hiding it,” one onlooker told The Sunday Telegraph.

“They were holding hands and he touched her bottom numerous times.

“There was nothing platonic about it.”

The pair on the set of Home and Away.

The Sunday Telegraph approached both Stewart and Nicodemou for comment on Saturday however their agents did not respond.

According to someone close to both of them, given they had both recently come out of long-term relationships they have done their best to keep the relationship under wraps.

“They knew the spotlight would be on them if the secret got out,” they said.

“Fans of Home and Away are going to go crazy over this romance. They are such a loved on-screen couple on the soapie.”

Nicodemou and Stewart’s Summer Bay characters Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan tied the knot in March at a winery in Sydney’s Hunter Valley, after being one of the longest-running unmarried TV couples on Australian screens.

Both their social media pages are flooded with messages from fans talking about their palpable chemistry.

“Time for Ada and James to get together in real life,” one follower wrote.

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