Oliver Sabel and Christian Mann are fictional characters from the German soap opera Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love), which was broadcast on Das Erste from 1995 to 2015.

Portrayed by Jo Weil (Oliver) and Thore Schölermann (Christian), the characters were introduced seven years apart but rose to prominence as a same-sex supercouple.

"[2] Weil returned to Verbotene Liebe on 2 November 2007 and remained until 6 February 2015, during the show's final season.

[6][7] He initially explained that after finishing with Verbotene Liebe, he would be away until at least early 2013, and said "I owe a lot to this series and would be happy if the connection did not break.

[2] Schölermann took some inspiration from Brokeback Mountain, explaining "The movie showed how realistically and beautifully you can portray the love between two men".

"[2] Both actors noted that though some touching and kissing between Olli and Christian is scripted, based on the scene they often take it upon themselves to add these intimacies, and "little things that you have when you are in a partnership".

[10] Elliot Robinson of So So Gay wrote, "This additional layer of tenderness really gives the couple a warmth and realness that has no doubt been instrumental in placing Christian and Olli in the hearts of many fans.

"[11] After two years of their characters being a "happy couple", Weil and Schölermann said they liked the conflict of their 2010 storyline, in which Rob Marenbach (Max Engelke) and Rebecca von Lahnstein (Jasmin Lord) try to come between Olli and Christian.

[1] Identifying as bisexual, Olli begins dating medical student Tom Seifert (Kay Böger) in 2000.

He hires his brother Gregor, who is subsequently surprised to discover Christian and Olli in bed together, but is supportive of the relationship.

Despite an apparent successful recovery, Olli develops an aneurysm as a result of the attack and undergoes brain surgery to save his life.

Some time later, Christian collapses, and is diagnosed with myocarditis, a bacterial infection which has spread to his heart muscle.

In 2011, Olli witnesses Phillip zu Hohenfelden (Stephan Käfer) being hit by a car and falls into depression.

Christian starts an affair with Theresa Erzberger (Eva Luca Klemmt), a coworker at the stud farm, but later breaks up with her.

[11] In late 2012, Christian accepts a job working with a world renowned horse trainer for several months in the United Kingdom.

During his absence, Charlie tries to stop Arno Brandner (Konrad Krauss), who is dying from Alzheimer's disease, from writing a letter to Olli revealing he has a half-sister from his father's extra-marital affair.

Christian returns in September 2013, but tells Olli he intends to extend his work contract in the UK for another year.

The strain this puts on their marriage is made worse by Christian's confession that he had a one-night stand with a woman when he was drunk in England.

Olli is dating Paul Verhoven (Lennart Betzgen) the 2020–2021 revival series Verbotene Liebe: Next Generation.

"[11] In 2019, Michael Patterson of What Culture wrote, "One of German TV's most revolutionary LGBT storylines, soap opera Verbotene Liebe made headlines for its authentic portrayal of the romance between Oliver Sabel and Christian Mann.

[14] The Olli and Christian romance attracted attention in the United States when German fans put clips of the story online with English subtitles.

[2][34] Weil said he and Schölermann became aware of their characters' popularity outside Germany first through emails from American fans, and then letters.

"[10] Weil said, "Then suddenly the snowball system started, French and Spanish subtitles were added in addition to the English.

This was in contrast to the storyline unfolding at the time on the American soap opera As the World Turns of Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer, two gay characters who had been together for a year and still had not consummated their relationship.

In 2008, Alexander Stevenson of Logo TV suggested that American serials "until very recently frequently treated gay content with kid gloves for fear of offending advertisers."

[1] Stevenson noted that other characters in the series are shown for the most part to be accepting of Olli and Christian's relationship, as a result of "Germany's more casual attitude toward gay people".

[1] In 2013, Verbotene Liebe was called "a beacon of LGBT inclusivity on an international level" amid the popularity of Olli and Christian.

[11] Robinson wrote in 2013, "If you wish to watch a gay couple's story unfold and evolve, you would struggle to find a better one than that of Christian and Oliver.

"[10] The marriage, presided over by guest star Dirk Bach and livestreamed, was the first church wedding between two men ever dramatized on German television.

"[35][36] In February 2010, Sam Martin of American production company Aid & Abet acquired the rights to adapt the Olli and Christian storyline in the US, changing the setting from Düsseldorf to Portland, Oregon.