Jimmy Essex has got engaged.

Jimmy Essex and Charles (c) Instagram/Jimmy Essex

Jimmy Essex and Charles (c) Instagram/Jimmy Essex

The former 'Hollyoaks star' - who played Adam Donovan on the Channel 4 soap from 2016 until 2018 - and his boyfriend Charles are to marry after the musician popped the question during a romantic break in Sri Lanka.

Charles wrote on Instagram: "6 years and counting... He said yes (sic)"

Jimmy shared a picture of the happy couple smooching while holding up an engagement on his photo-sharing account, and he added the caption: "So ... this happened. (sic)"

The pair celebrated four years together in 2017, and Jimmy posted an emotional tribute to Charles.

He wrote at the time: "Thank you for putting up with me, 4 years!!" he captioned the post. "You must be mental! I love you. (sic)"

Several of Jimmy's former 'Hollyoaks' stars congratulated him and Charles on the news.

Duncan James - who played Ryan Knight in the soap - wrote: "Awwwww massive congrats guys. (sic)"

Chelsee Healey (Goldie McQueen) also sent her well wishes to Jimmy, whose character Adam was killed off in May but made a brief reappearance in December via a video recording.

Adam was shot dead by his own father, Glenn Donovan (Bob Cryer), but the 34-year-old star admitted at the time he was "really happy" with his "shocking" exit storyline.

He said: "I'm really happy with the exit.

"I think it's really, really shocking. I like the build-up to it - the good guy gone bad and then it turns back round, but then it's too late.

"It makes Glenn, Bob's character, so evil, doesn't it? I like that."