Ben Freeman has been having an affair with his West End co-star Gina Beck, it was reported today.

Married ex Emmerdale actor Ben Freeman, who has a 15-month-old son, was pictured openly kissing and hugging Gina Beck, 31, on a packed tube just last week – apparently not caring who saw them.

Sources said British actors Ben Freeman and Gina Beck have been lovers since January and have enjoyed sneaking around behind the back of Ben’s wife, former Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Biddall, after meeting on West End show Wicked three months ago.

Insiders added the rest of the cast are uncomfortable with their relationship, which Ben Freeman and Gina Beck have made obvious at rehearsals.

It isn’t the first time Ben Freeman has become embroiled in a scandal – he hit the headlines in 2008 when he faced trial for raping a 16-year-old girl in Barbados. Ben Freeman was later acquitted.

A source told The Daily Star: “It is no surprise they were caught. This has all been behind Jennifer’s back, she had no idea.

“There were no signs of the marriage in trouble. They were blissfully happy and everyone thought they were the real deal and would last forever. The marriage definitely was not over.”

Ben Freeman has been having an affair with his West End co-star Gina Beck

Ben Freeman, who plays Prince Fiyero, only started on the show this year after beginning rehearsals in October.

The source added: “Gina puts herself out there as this squeaky-clean actress, so this news coming out will not do her any good. She was engaged to someone up until very recently.”

Ben Freeman met wife Jennifer Biddall on the set of Dreamcoats and Petticoats, she agreed to marry him two years after he was acquitted of the rape charge.

The actor was accused in 2006 of raping a girl, from Cheshire, on a sun lounger on the tropical island.

Ben Freeman repeatedly denied rape and claimed the sex had been consensual – he was acquitted of the charge.

After Ben Freeman’s son was born he did a shoot with his wife Jennifer Biddall for OK! magazine and even had a husband and wife column in Mother and Baby magazine.