EX-ROVERS star David Dunn says it may not be all over between him and actress Sammy Winward.

David, 24, split from his soap star fiance - who plays Katie in ITV Emmerdale - last week.

The Great Harwood-born football star blamed the break up on Sammy's current heavy workload due to a storyline involving Katie's love triangle with Andy Sugden and his brother Robert.

But when asked if a reconciliation might be on the cards after the storyline ended David said: "You never know but I am optimistic. We will wait and see."

David, who joined Birmingham City from Blackburn in a £5.5m deal last summer, met Sammy at a Peter Kay gig and popped the question at her 18th birthday party last October.

But today he said the pair had not made any plans for their wedding prior to their split.

David said: "With Sammy's storyline at the moment it is really hard work.

"I don't know - it's one of those things. We decided last week to call it a day.

"With me being in Birmingham we thought we could work it out but I was seeing her only once a month sometimes.

"I spoke to her the other day and we are friends but it can't really work."

Relationship and media experts today said pressures of fame can often cause problems.

John Mundy, head of film and media at University of Central Lancashire, said: "Given the spotlight that falls on people in television, the pressure on actors who become celebrities is so great that it can put strain on relationships.

"It is very difficult for them to have what people would call 'normal relationships'.

"And now celebrity status seems to be sliding down the scale to effect more and more people.

"Five or 10 years ago soap actors would be relatively anonymous but they are now more in the spotlight along with people like the Beckhams."

Viki Cuthbertson, chief executive officer for Lancashire's Relate service, said living apart can also put pressure on couples. She said: "When your work requires you to live apart, whether you are a celebrity or a normal member of the public, it can be difficult to maintain a good relationship. It requires hard work.

"Media involvement is always going to increase pressure if a couple are experiencing problems.

"There is the 'goldfish bowl' effect that they are living this out in front of millions .

"It is a hard thing to do to maintain a relationship at a distance - it can be done but it does take a bit of hard work."

A spokesman for Emmerdale said: "We can confirm that Sammy Winward has separated from boyfriend David Dunn.

"This is due to the pressures of a long-distance relationship.

"There is no-one else involved and they will remain friends."