Article from July 1982

Actor Ronnie Allen, a lifelong bachelor of 48, proposed for real to his beautiful Crossroads wife, Sue Lloyd, in bed.

"I'd planned it to be a very romantic occasion, walking along the beach hand in hand," says Ronnie.  "But 10 days ago, while I was in bed with bronchitis in London and Sue was at her parents' home in Suffolk, I decided I couldn't wait any longer.  So I rang her and said, 'Will you marry me?'"

Says Sue, 39:  "It came as a bit of a shock even though we'd been living together for some time.  Ronnie had just come back from Majorca and I was expecting him to come to Suffolk.  When he rang and proposed I just said, 'Yes, of course.'  I think he then went back to his cough mixture and I celebrated with champagne at my parents' house 100 miles away."

Ronnie, who plays suave motel director David Hunter in the hit soap opera, talked for the first time about his secret two year romance with Sue, his screen wife Barbara.  "We met three years ago when Sue came to do a ten week spot on the programme," he said.  "I vividly remember her walking into the studio for the first time.  She must have made an immediate impression but I had no idea she'd be the woman - the only woman - I've ever wanted to marry. 

"There have been women in my life, but by far the most influential were the thousands of women fans.  I've had scores of proposals of marriage from them.  Really serious ones.  Like the lady who wrote and said, 'Please, please marry me.  I'm very anxious not to make any more mistakes in my life.  I've made two already.  You will understand what those two mistakes were when you see the enclosed photograph.'  The letter was signed Miss Smith and the photograph showed her with a child on either side - obviously her two mistakes. 

"Another lady also made me a proposition.  This time it wasn't marriage, it was straight sex.  She said, 'My husband clocks out at 8 am and in again at 5 pm - any time in between you're welcome to put your shoes under my bed.' 

"But meeting Sue is the best thing that ever happened to me.  When we played our first scene together she was very nervous and I remember trying to calm her.  During the week Sue lived at a hotel which was just around the corner from my Birmingham flat.  We used to see each other quite often when Sue took her beautiful Afghan hound, Coppelia, for walks.  I think perhaps it was the dog I fell in love with first.  We'd see each other every day at the studios and sometimes go for a meal with Sue Hanson, who plays Diane the waitress.

"Other times Sue would come round to my flat alone for a quiet evening.  There was one time I remember very well.  We watched television and as Sue stood up to leave, I kissed her.  It surprised both of us.  Sue left and went back to her hotel.  It seemed silly for her to live just around the corner so I asked her if she'd like to share my flat.  It could have been difficult to adapt, because we're so different.  Sue is very extrovert and less tidy than I am.  But we got along famously.

"In the beginning it was just a friendly relationship.  But it caused a lot of tongue-wagging in the neighbourhood and everyone was asking if we were having an affair.  Quite truthfully we denied it.  Then when everyone accepted the situation, we did become lovers."

Said Sue:  "We didn't plan it that way.  I denied it adamantly before, so I couldn't go out and shout 'Eureka, now we're lovers!'  Besides it was a very private thing.  It happened one evening after dinner at the flat and it seemed the most natural thing to do.  Ronnie is a very warm person both in temperament and in love-making.  Sleeping together was very good.  With Ronnie I am wonderfully relaxed.  There's a feeling of exhilaration I've never had with anyone else."

In the past Sue was involved with Peter Sellars and Sean Connery.  She added:  "I don't know if it's timing, but Ronnie and I just seem to be right together.  In the last three years we've spent 24 hours a day with each other.  That way you certainly get to know a person."

Said Ronnie:  "We've had some tragedies in those years, too.  I think they brought us closer together.  There was the death of Roger Tonge - he played Meg Richardson's son Sandy - who was a great friend of mine.  That was a terrible blow.  For the first time I realised how important it is to have someone to share your grief.  I don't know why Sue is the only woman for me or why I love her so.  If I could explain, I'd be capable of defining the whole secret of human love.  All I'm certain of is that every day now is a pleasure."