It's not just soap character's lives that are full of drama - a lot of the time the real lives of the actors who play them give the storyline teams at 'EastEnders', 'Coronation Street' and 'Emmerdale' enough material to last years.
From Danniella Westbrook's battle with cocaine, to Leslie Grantham's steamy internet sessions in his dressing room, let's take a look at the where life has imitated art.
Real Life Soap Scandals
Real Life Soap Scandals(01 of15)
Leslie Grantham Dirty Den actor Leslie Grantham lived up to the name of his 'EastEnders' character after pictures of him apparently exposing himself via a webcam in his dressing room were published in a Sunday paper in 2004. He also allegedly lashed out at fellow castmates Kim Medcalf, Wendy Richards, Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace, and was forced to apologise. "I very much regret that a moment's stupidity has cast a shadow over what I consider one of Britain's best shows of which I'm thoroughly proud to be a part," he said. "I am wholeheartedly ashamed of my behaviour and feel that I have let down my colleagues, as well as my friends and family." (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(02 of15)
Danniella WestbrookDanniella Westbrook was fired from her role in 'EastEnders' as the Mitchell brother's little sister Sam due to her cocaine use in 1996. Producers then invited her back in 2001 to give her one last chance to prove herself, but were forced to let her go over her addiction. When the character was reintroduced in 2002, a new actress appeared in the role. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(03 of15)
Gillian TaylforthGillian Taylforth (aka EastEnders' Kathy Beale) unsuccessfully tried to sue The Sun for libel in 1994, after they reported that she allegedly practised oral sex on her husband in the front car of their car on a slip road on the A1. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(04 of15)
Michelle Keegan'Coronation Street' star Michelle Keegan faced criticism when she was pictured inhaling laughing gas on her 25th birthday. After snaps were published in a Sunday paper, Michelle hit back on Twitter writing: "Oh hell... Apparently I'm a 'crack addict' Hahahaha!! Yeah... Ok!" (credit:Michelle Keegan/Twitter)
Real Life Soap Scandals(05 of15)
Steve McFadden 'EastEnders' bosses stood by Steve McFadden after he was embroiled in a dogging scandal. The mother of his two daughters, Angela Bostock, alleged he had made her have sex with a transvestite and a fellow dogger so he could watch and pleasure himself. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(06 of15)
Ross KempUsed to beating people up as EastEnders' Grant Mitchell, actor Ross Kemp became a victim of domestic violence when his then-wife, tabloid editor Rebekah Wade (now Brooks) allegedly assaulted him in 2005. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(07 of15)
Lacey TurnerLacey Turner was left red-faced when The Sun claimed to have got hold of CCTV footage showing her having sex in a hotel corridor in 2005. The actress - who played EastEnders' Stacey Slater - was just 17 at the time. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(08 of15)
Craig CharlesCraig Charles was suspended from his role as Coronation Street's Lloyd Mullaney when The Mirror published pictures of him allegedly smoking crack cocaine in 2006. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(09 of15)
Jessie WallaceEven Jessie Wallace's 'EastEnders' character Kat Slater would have blushed at the naked snaps of her that fell into the hands of the tabloids in 2011. Just days before her wedding to Vincent Morse, it emerged he had sent them to an ex-lover in the hope of luring her into bed. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(10 of15)
Adam Thomas'Emmerdale' star Adam Thomas was forced to apologise for homophobic comments made to a gay student who approached him in a McDonalds. After Ricky Platts exposed Adam for calling him a 'gay boy' and his friends 'queers', Adam said: “I deeply apologise for my actions and I am horrified to realise that I have caused offence. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(11 of15)
Bruce JonesWhile Bruce Jones was on a suspension from his role as Coronation Street's Les Battersby in 2007 for allegedly making inappropriate comments in front of an undercover reporter, he was reportedly caught delivering a racist rant in a pub, about phone workers "not speaking English properly". (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(12 of15)
Christopher ParkerChristopher Parker - who played Spencer Moon in 'EastEnders' tried to take his own life in 2005, following a tabloid story speculating his sexuality. The star was so fed up of gay rumours, he took an overdose of paracetamol and attempted to slash his wrists. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(13 of15)
Shona McGartyShona McGarty was suspended from her role as EastEnders' Whitney Dean after repeatedly turning up late to filming. Bosses slapped her with a four week suspension without pay. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(14 of15)
Melissa SuffieldLucy Beale may have been the wild child of Walford, but 'EastEnders' actress Melissa Suffield found herself out of a job when her off-screen life took a similar turn. "I was a naughty girl outside of work, well that's what they have sacked me for, pathetic!" the teen wrote on her web page at the time. (credit:Getty Images)
Real Life Soap Scandals(15 of15)
Ben Freeman'Emmerdale' star Ben Freeman was accused of raping a girl he met on a Caribbean holiday when she was 16 back in 2007. He was later cleared of the charges. (credit:Getty Images)