Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe has shared a series of holiday photos from St Tropez on Instagram as she enjoyed a getaway with her boyfriend Josh.
The 42-year-old soap star cosied up to her partner on the French Riviera, posing in a selection of swimwear and evening outfits during the coastal trip. In one mirror selfie, Metcalfe displayed her toned abs in a skimpy rose pink patterned bikini with a matching cropped cover-up.
Another photo showed the actress wearing a white halter-neck bikini top paired with a white beach skirt featuring a dramatic leg split. She was also pictured sunbathing while enjoying a glass of wine, as well as wearing a leopard print sundress with sunglasses.
For an evening out, the couple dressed up for dinner, with Metcalfe posing alongside Josh in a floor-length green gown. Sharing the gallery on Tuesday, she captioned the post: "Professionals. St Tropez u were bliss."
French Riviera getaway snaps
St Tropez, situated on the French Riviera in southeastern France, is a renowned coastal destination popular among celebrities for its luxury beach resorts and dining. Metcalfe has played the character Mercedes McQueen on Channel 4's flagship soap opera Hollyoaks since 2006, filming the drama series in Liverpool.
The getaway comes shortly after Metcalfe discussed her relationship with Josh during an interview with the Daily Mail last month, explaining why the couple choose to live separately.
Metcalfe revealed that she has no immediate plans to get married or move in with Josh, whom she has been dating since April 2024 after meeting through a mutual friend.
"I've never thought about marriage in my path, but you never know," Metcalfe said. "I feel at peace and I've never dreamt of a big white wedding dress."
Relationship and weekend routine
Addressing their current living arrangements, Metcalfe explained that cohabiting does not fit their schedules. "Moving in together is not in our path at the minute, it's just the way our lifestyles are right now," she said.
Instead, the couple frequently travel together on weekends when Metcalfe's nine-year-old son, Daye, stays with his father, former Geordie Shore star Greg Lake. MTV's reality show Geordie Shore follows young adults living in Newcastle upon Tyne, where Lake appeared during its initial series.
"We live on holiday. My boyfriend loves an itinerary, and he loves a flight. We love jetting off whenever we can," Metcalfe said. "Daye my little boy goes up to his dad's every other weekend, so every other weekend you can guarantee that I'll be on a flight somewhere."
Although the couple first appeared together publicly in April 2024, Metcalfe has kept their relationship largely out of the spotlight. Explaining how they connected, she noted: "We just met through mutual friends, so that's always a good start. Dating apps are not for me. I think you need the friend introduction like I had."
Attitudes to aging and Botox
During the interview, Metcalfe also shared her perspective on maintaining her fitness and health in her forties. Rejecting common expectations surrounding age, she stated: "I don't think there is ever any secret. I think if you are just happy in your life, then you're going to look and feel good."
She added: "I don't like the stigma of, 'oh, you're in your forties, so you should probably look a little bit aged.' I don't think you should. I think it's how you feel for your age, and for me, I feel great. In the past, I have had a little bit of Botox. I love a glass of red wine and lots of fun."
Reflections on lads mag era
Metcalfe also reflected on her early career during the late 2000s and early 2010s, when she frequently appeared in British lads' magazines alongside her Hollyoaks co-stars. She recalled those magazine shoots as "the best times of our lives."
"Jorgie Porter and I had so much fun during that era. I feel like they were the early days and my early memories of Hollyoaks," Metcalfe said, referring to her co-star who portrays Theresa McQueen on the Channel 4 soap.
She recalled the routine of traveling from the show's Liverpool set to London for weekend work: "We went to work, and then we came down to London from Liverpool for photo shoots on Saturdays. We loved it. I'm not sure I'd want to get my boobs out now."
Reflecting on the photoshoots, she concluded: "I don't think it's wrong or it's right, but I feel it served its purpose for the time. I found it so much fun, and I never had any bad experiences on shoots, thankfully."
