Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito’s Love Story: Shortland Street Stars Engaged After Playing Exes

Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito share one of the most joyful love stories connected to Shortland Street. After years of friendship and playing former partners Maeve Mullens and Saskia Burgess, the pair eventually became flatmates, fell in love and got engaged.

Their story carries particular meaning for LGBTQ+ viewers because Jess and Amanda have spoken openly about the value of seeing happy queer couples building fulfilling lives together. Their engagement also creates a lovely connection between their lives away from television and the characters they once played in Ferndale.

Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito played former partners in Shortland Street

Jess joined Shortland Street as nurse Maeve Mullens in 2020, while Amanda appeared as Maeve’s former partner Saskia Burgess. The characters had raised their son, Wilder, together before separating, leaving them with a difficult history built around betrayal, parenting and their continuing love for their child.

Jess and Amanda were already friends before working together, and neither imagined that their relationship would eventually become romantic. A planned kiss between Maeve and Saskia was rewritten because of filming restrictions, which came as a relief because they both found the idea of kissing a close friend strange at the time.

Amanda later returned briefly as Saskia following Wilder’s death. Their connection with Shortland Street has continued, with Jess remaining part of the cast as Maeve and Amanda becoming one of the programme’s regular directors.

They were friends for more than a decade

Jess and Amanda had known each other for more than ten years before their friendship developed into a relationship. Their long history gave them an existing understanding of each other’s personalities, careers and lives before romance entered the picture.

In 2022, Amanda needed somewhere to live and Jess invited them to move into her West Auckland home as a flatmate. Sharing a home gradually brought them closer, with Amanda’s dog Mona apparently recognising their growing bond before either of them had fully understood it.

The couple now share their home with cats Fennec and Hunu and dogs Mona and Bruce. Their pets are considered part of their family and were also included in the private evening Amanda arranged for the proposal.

Amanda Tito’s proposal to Jess Sayer

Jess returned home after filming to discover a picnic waiting on the lawn, with a path lit by tiki torches. Amanda had also left Jess’s favourite rum, an instant camera and a note asking her to photograph the things she loved while she waited.

Amanda then led Jess to their outdoor fire pit, where they ate vegan sausages and potatoes cooked over the flames. As they sat beneath the night sky, Amanda presented Jess with a gold engagement ring featuring a half moon diamond and proposed.

The setting reflected the life they had already created together. Rather than choosing a crowded public location, Amanda planned an evening around their home, pets, favourite food and the comfort they found in spending time together.

The secret plan behind the engagement ring

Amanda asked Jess’s mother, Deb, for her blessing before arranging the proposal. They also secretly borrowed one of Jess’s favourite rings so the jeweller could produce the engagement ring in the correct size.

The plan nearly came undone when Jess noticed the ring was missing and became concerned that it had been lost. Amanda managed to return it without revealing the real reason it had disappeared, allowing the proposal to remain a surprise.

The completed ring came from one of Jess’s favourite jewellers and carried a personal meaning for her. Its half moon design represented the combination of love and friendship at the heart of their relationship.

Why Jess and Amanda’s LGBTQ+ love story matters

Jess and Amanda’s story is not only notable because both are connected to a popular television programme. It offers positive LGBTQ+ representation centred on friendship, commitment, shared ambitions and the quiet happiness of building a home together.

Amanda has explained that falling in love with Jess altered how they viewed marriage and queer commitment. Both understand that openly sharing their happiness can help audiences see LGBTQ+ relationships represented through love and security rather than secrecy or tragedy.

There is also something especially touching about two people who played estranged former partners discovering a lasting relationship away from the programme. Maeve and Saskia’s romance may have ended before they arrived on screen together, but Jess and Amanda’s friendship provided the foundations for their own future.

Frequently asked questions:

Are Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito engaged?

Jess and Amanda are engaged after Amanda proposed during a private evening at their West Auckland home. The proposal included a picnic, their pets, an outdoor fire and a specially chosen half moon diamond ring.

How did Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito become a couple?

Jess and Amanda were friends for more than a decade before Amanda moved into Jess’s home as a flatmate in 2022. Living together brought them closer, and their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship.

Who do Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito play in Shortland Street?

Jess plays nurse Maeve Mullens, while Amanda played Maeve’s former partner Saskia Burgess. Amanda later continued their involvement with Shortland Street as one of its current directors.

Did Maeve and Saskia kiss in Shortland Street?

A kiss between Maeve and Saskia was planned, but the scene was rewritten because of filming restrictions. Jess and Amanda later admitted that they had both felt relieved because they only viewed each other as close friends at that point.

UK viewers can watch Jess Sayer as Maeve Mullens in current episodes of Shortland Street free on STV Player. Follow more Ferndale news, LGBTQ+ features and cast profiles through SoapLandTV.

Sources: Jess Sayer and Amanda Tito’s engagement interview with Woman’s Day, published by Now to Love, plus their official career profiles.