Alan Halsall: There are ups and downs with blended family

Alan Halsall has admitted there are "ups and downs" with a blended family, but his daughter "comes first".

The \'Coronation Street\' star - who is dating former \'Corrie\' actress Tisha Merry - co-parents six-year-old Sienna with his ex Lucy-Jo Hudson, and while he doesn\'t have "a great deal of communication" with his former co-star, his daughter has a lot of love in her life.

Alan said: "There\'s always going to be ups and downs with a blended family.

"So long as Sienna comes first in all of it, that\'s all that matters. Sienna\'s got her mum and dad, and she\'s also got [Lucy-Jo\'s partner] Lewis [Devine] and Tisha. It\'s just a case that everybody loves her.

"Of course there will be differences of opinion; so long as we\'re in that loving way when Sienna is around.

"We don\'t have a great deal of communication, it\'s only ever about Sienna and that\'s all it ever needs to be."

Tisha has praised Alan as a great dad, admitting he is "so caring and loving".

She said: "He\'s such a good dad; he\'s so caring and loving.

"He notices everything and his communication with Sienna is so strong. I would love that for our child if we have one."

And Alan admitted the couple have "discussed the future together".

Speaking in a joint interview with OK! magazine, he added: "You always talk to each other about your aspirations, don\'t you?

"What you\'d like in terms of family, etc. We\'ve never had a proper serious sit down but we\'ve discussed the future together."