Desperate Housewives star Nicollette Sheridan and fiance Michael Bolton bonded over a mutual love of word game Scrabble.

The pair - who are set to marry next year (08) - originally split up in 1993 after dating for several years; but they got back together as a couple in November 2005 and announced their engagement the following March (06).

And now Sheridan, 44, reveals the secret to their long-lasting relationship was a shared passion for the cult board game.

She says, "We have always been an inspiration for one another and had this deep love, even when we were apart as friends.

"We had an ongoing Scrabble tournament by email for close on two decades. I won the last five games in a row." (CG/WNTMAS/LR)

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