DRAMA SCHOOL DREAM! Emmerdale’s Amy Walsh and EastEnders’ Toby-Alexander Smith UNVEIL New Acting Academy for Kids Aged 7–16

EMMERDALE’S Amy Walsh revealed her exciting new career move alongside her EastEnders star husband.

Emmerdale favourite has opened up about her surprising new job – and she’s teaming up with none other than her EastEnders star husband, Toby Alexander Smith.

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Amy and her hubby want to inspire fresh talent with their new drama schoolCredit: instagram/@thewalshacademynorth

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Amy expands the acting school that her sister first opened in LondonCredit: instagram/@thewalshacademynorth
Taking to Instagram, the soap power couple announced they will be launching a drama school – in a bid to inspire fresh talent.

Toby said: “The Walsh Academy North will open on 2nd June 2025 and provide speech and drama classes for children aged from 7 to 16.”

Amy chimed in and revealed that herself and Toby will be the acting coaches.

She added that their aim is not to make every child a TV star – but to offer a safe space from them to express themselves and meet new friends to have fun with.

The Walsh Academy was established in London in 2021 by Amy Walsh’s sister, Sally Sheppard Walsh.

They wrote: “The academy has flourished and the students are THRIVING! That is why we are a thrilled to be bringing The Walsh Academy… to the NORTH!”

Emmerdale actress Amy is best known for playing Tracy Robinson, while Toby played the EastEnders villain Gray Atkins.

Gray’s exit on the BBC soap involved his arrest and imprisonment after his murders and domestic abuse was uncovered.

The soap stars first met in 2019 while in the audience of Strictly Come Dancing and quickly moved in together ahead of the coronavirus pandemic.

Two years after they met, they welcomed their first child Bonnie Mae in December 2021.

Emmerdale’s Amy Walsh admits relationship struggle as she ‘barely sees’ husband a year after wedding

In August 2023, they got engaged during a romantic holiday in Ibiza.

In September 2023, they tied the knot in a star-studded ceremony in front of family and friends in Montenegro.

She told OK!: “It was honestly the most perfect day. It surpassed all my expectations and more. I felt so surprisingly present on the day and loved every second. Now I’m just in pure bliss.

“Our family and friends are really important to us and we wanted everyone to have the best time.

“They all made such an effort to come out there for us. Friends left their kids for the first time and spent their money getting there. We wanted it to be really special.”

Among the guests was Amy’s famous sister, Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh, who performed at the ceremony.

As did EastEnders star Shona McGarty, who sang a duet with TikTok sensation Sonny Tennet.

Emmerdale favourites Natalie Ann Jamieson, Olivia Bromley and Louisa Clein also made the trip to Eastern Europe to watch their friend say her vows.

The happy couple chose to wed at the picturesque 17th century Talici Hill Rustic Villas – located at the foot of a mountain range.

Amy had six bridesmaids and there were eight pageboys involved in the family occasion.

In an emotional moment, Amy’s dad, who is living with terminal cancer, walked her down the aisle.

Toby called the moment “poignant”.

However, seven months after marriage, Amy admitted that married life hasn’t been easy due to the couple’s manic work schedules.

She told stand-in Lorraine host Christine Lampard: “I’ve barely seen him since we got married so… we do feel like newlyweds.

“We’ve not even been together that long, in the grand scheme of things, so our relationship is still quite new and fresh but when you throw in a toddler in the mix and work commitments then it’s crazy, but we’re trying to get some time for each other. It’s hard.”

Amy revealed she and Toby were like passing ships.

She continued: “Then I went full throttle into a massive storyline. I barely saw either of them, and he then flew to Bulgaria and did a film out there and it’s been constantly like that and it is a struggle. I don’t have family around me to help. It’s tricky, but you do it.”

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The couple got together just before the first coronavirus lockdownCredit: Instagram/@amyvwalsh

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They got married in a star-studded ceremony in MontenegroCredit: Instagram/@amyvwalsh

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Amy and Toby have a daughter called Bonnie, now threeCredit: Rex