EastEnders’ Maisie Smith and Zack Morris put on a cosy display amid speculation they’re dating

EastEnders co-stars Maisie Smith and Zack Morris appeared to be putting on a cosy display at the soap’s 35th anniversary party on Saturday night amid speculation they’re dating off-screen.

The Tiffany Butcher star, 18, and Keegan Baker actor, 21, seemed to share a taxi home after the raucous celebrations as they were spotted getting into a parked vehicle together outside Hackney Town Hall, London.   

At one point in the evening, Maisie appeared to have her hand on Zack’s shoulder and neck as they headed towards the car.

While at a separate stage, the two soap stars appeared to be having a cosy chat as they waited for their taxi outside Hackney Town Hall in the early hours of Sunday.

Maisie looked stylish for the night in a pair of skintight leather-looking trousers teamed with a patterned top and cropped denim jacket.

She finished her look with a pair of clear perspex platform heels and a Calvin Klein crossover handbag.

Meanwhile Zack looked dapper in a pair of black skinny jeans, a dark T-shirt and a khaki green jacket.

It comes after MailOnline revealed that the two stars have been growing close behind-the-scenes – and pals are convinced the pair will become a real life couple. 

Insiders say Maisie and Zack – who play Tiffany Butcher and Keegan Baker – went public with their blossoming romance at the soap’s 35th anniversary wrap party.

A TV source revealed to MailOnline: ‘Maisie and Zack are very close off-screen, as well as being a married couple in EastEnders. They were the only cast members to share the same cab home together after the party on Saturday night.’

‘They couldn’t resist showing their affections for each other, with Maisie tickling the back of Zack’s neck as they left the party’ a second insider added. 

‘Romance blossomed as their characters grew closer, which only adds to their chemistry on-screen.

‘They’re adorable together and the rest of the cast think it’s really sweet they’ve connected in this way.’  

Albert Square’s Tiffany (Maisie) and Keegan (Zack) fled Walford to secretly tie the knot in Scotland last November, despite their families being against them getting married. 

But after some persuasion, Keegan’s mum Karen (Lorraine Stanley) and Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) ended up embracing the young romance and gave the couple their blessing.  

Maisie told MailOnline: ‘I film most of my scenes with Zack, naturally we’ve built a great friendship. Nothing but mates.’

Zack said: ‘The majority of our filming days are spent together so we have grown closer as friends but nothing more than that.’

Actress and singer Maisie, who also won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special last year, first joined the BBC One soap age six as Bianca Jackson’s daughter. 

She returned to EastEnders full-time in 2018 and has portrayed a number of sensitive storylines, including being roped into working for a drug gang. 

EastEnders celebrated their 35-year anniversary last week with a special run of episodes filmed on a boat on the River Thames.

While Tiffany and Keegan were unharmed during the explosive week, Sharon Mitchell’s son Dennis was killed after Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) locked him in a room as the boat flooded with water.  

Devastated Sharon (Letitia Dean) told Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) she never wanted to see him again despite just giving birth to his baby, which the pair had behind her husband Phil Mitchell’s back. 

Last week, EastEnders legend June Brown, 93, revealed she had quit the soap after playing Dot Cotton for 35 years. 

The veteran actress said she had already mourned her character but still felt ‘sad and down’ after finally saying goodbye to Dot for good.

She admitted: ‘It’s almost as if I’ve been bereaved. I was feeling down a few days ago. I thought, “What’s the matter? Why do I feel so sad?”

‘I’ve played two people simultaneously for 35 years. Really Dot wasn’t me, but spiritually she probably was.’