Dylan Sprouse explained why 'secret' relationship with former Disney co-star Miley Cyrus ended

During the golden days of Disney Channel, Dylan Sprouse and Miley Cyrus shared a secret romance.

But their puppy love quickly went kaput when another famous face who was also beloved by 2000s kids waltzed onto the scene and swiped The Suite Life star's other half.

In wake of Cyrus, 33, confirming that they did in fact get together, footage of a nearly two-decade old interview of Sprouse discussing their short-lived romance has now resurfaced.

After years of being hounded by rumours about her teenage boyfriends, the 'Flowers' singer fessed up to dating Sprouse, also 33, during the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.

While chatting to Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper, the Grammy-winner confessed: "Dylan Sprouse was my boyfriend, I think he was the cutest. It's true, confirmed!"

Reflecting on her relationship with the Riverdale actor, Cyrus added: "Dylan was my crush. Their dad would take us to sushi. I was into the whole culture, and it was a two-for-one. Like, bring the brother [Cole]. Hello!"

This pair would have been quite the Disney power couple if they went the distance...but unfortunately for Sprouse, it seems as though another child star stole his thunder, and subsequently, his girlfriend.

Although the actor - who got hitched to Victoria's Secret model Barbara Palvin in 2023 - has remained tight-lipped about his history with Cyrus over the years, he did briefly address their relationship way back in 2008.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! alongside his twin brother Cole, he was asked about rumours suggesting there was a romantic link between him and The Last Song actress.

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel asked the baby-faced 16-year-old: "Dylan you guys, according to this magazine, dated for one day? Is that true?"

Sprouse was a good sport and responded by explaining that he and Cyrus had an extremely short and sweet relationship when he was aged around 11 or 12.

Kimmel then asked the youngster to 'talk us through that day' they dated, to which he replied: "Oooh, it's hard, it's hard but erm...yes, erm kind of. Relatively.

"We met at her set, I believe and we dated. And then Nick Jonas walked by, and it was over!"

Although we can't be sure if their relationship really did come to an end just by Nick Jonas passing by, it does seem to marry up with the timeline of Cyrus' dating history.

Cyrus previously revealed she had first met Nick at a 2006 charity event - and during a previous interview with Seventeen which was published in 2008.

"We became boyfriend and girlfriend the day we met," she said. "He was on a quest to meet me, and he was like, ‘I think you’re beautiful and I really like you.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I like you so much'.

"Nick and I loved each other. We still do, but we were in love with each other. For two years he was basically my 24/7. But it was really hard to keep it from people. We were arguing a lot, and it really wasn’t fun."

Cyrus said she 'bawled for a month straight' after splitting up with the boyband member at the end of 2007.

"I was so sad," she said at the time. "I just went into this weird funk. And I dyed my hair black. When we were dating, Nick wanted me to get highlights - and so I did that, and I got myself looking great. And then, on the day we broke up, I was like, I want to make my hair black now - I don’t want to look pretty; I want to look hard-core.

"I was rebelling against everything Nick wanted me to be," Cyrus dramatically continued. "And then I was like, I’ve got to be by myself for now, and just figure out who I really am."

How nostalgic did reading all that make you, eh?

Thankfully, these lot have all moved on these days, including Cyrus.

She is happily engaged to musician Maxx Morando, who popped the question during a trip to Asia back in December last year.

The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special is available to stream now on Disney+ and Hulu.