Sanderson: Shenton is great pal

Nikki Sanderson has revealed she's made a friend for life in her Hollyoaks co-star Rachel Shenton. The former Corrie star and Rachel - who is leaving the show in February - play sisters Maxine and Mitzeee Minniver on the Channel 4 soap, and are good pals off-camera too. Nikki - who first appeared on the show as feisty Maxine in November - said the pair get mistaken for real-life sisters when they are out and about. She said: "Rachel and I get on really well in real life, we're so close and I think that comes across on screen. A lot of people say that they really enjoy Maxine and Mitzeee on screen and I think it's because we get on so well off screen that you can see that relationship between us on screen as well. "I'm having such a wonderful time filming with her and I think I can say I've made a lifelong friend in her. We're very alike in real life personality-wise so filming stuff like this was just a laugh a minute for the pair of us." The former Corrie star added: "When Rachel and I go out together, people ask us if we're real sisters. We go shopping and stuff and people say, 'Oh my God, I didn't realise you were real sisters'. We're not, we just hang about together outside of work! "The response has been just amazing and the Hollyoaks fans are so supportive, they're really great people. I've only been up there a few months but I already feel like I'm part of the furniture."