BBC boss Peter Salmon is having a relationship with former Coronation Street actress Sarah Lancashire, it has emerged.

Father-of-three Mr Salmon, 44, met Ms Lancashire, who played barmaid Raquel in the soap, several years ago when they both worked for Granada TV in Manchester.

It was disclosed yesterday that the high-powered couple have become romantically involved.

The pair were both at the National TV awards on Tuesday night where Ms Lancashire won the Most Popular Actress prize for her part in the drama Seeing Red. They attended the ceremony separately and sat in different parts of London's Royal Albert Hall.

Mr Salmon is due to take up the post of Director of Sport at the BBC on November 1.

He left his prestigious position as Controller of BBC1, where he commissioned a series of top-rated shows, in August.

Mr Salmon has moved out of the house he shared with his partner of 20 years Penny Watt and is staying in a flat nearby in Oxford.

He has three sons with Ms Watt who are aged five to 15.

Ms Lancashire, 36, has two children from a previous relationship.