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Emmerdale Jeff Hordley's love life with Zoe Henry from 'truly awful' loss to illness

Emmerdale legend Jeff Hordley has been married to co-star Zoe Henry for several years and the couple have had their fair share of heartbreak and drama

[Emmerdale: jeff hordley wife zoe henry ]

Emmerdale Jeff Hordley's love life with Zoe Henry from 'truly awful' loss to illness(Image: GETTY)

Emmerdales Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry are a loved real-life soap couple - but what do we know about their romance?

Both stars joined the ITV soap way back in 2000, with Jeff playing Cain Dingle and Zoe taking on the role of Rhona Goskirk. Since then, the pair have been involved in a ton of big soap moments.

But away from the village set, married couple Jeff and Zoe live a low-key life with their two children. But when did they get married, and which Emmerdale stars attended the wedding? What heartbreaking loss have they endured? And what has Zoe said about Jeffs life-changing illness? Heres everything we know about Jeff and Zoes real-life romance

Jeff on proposing to Zoe

[Jeff and Zoe are parents to two children - daughter Violet Percy, born in 2005, and son Stan Percy, who arrived three years later]

Jeff and Zoe have been together for years(Image: PA)

After meeting for the first time at drama school over two decades ago, a romance quickly blossomed between Jeff and Zoe. Going from strength to strength, Jeff popped the question to Zoe in 2002, right after she won the Best Actress in a Leading Role award at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.

He told the publication: I had been planning to propose for some time and thought to myself: 'If she wins today, I'll do it today'. When she won, I leaped out of my seat in front of her.

Then it dawned on me that her winning meant that I had to propose - and that's when the nerves set in. Fortunately for me, she said yes.

Jeff and Zoe's wedding

[An individual dressed in formal attire, consisting of a suit and tie, stands next to another individual who is wearing a bright yellow outfit. They both appear to be smiling and posing for a photograph in front of a sparkling backdrop and a red curtain.]

They have two children together - Violet and Stan(Image: Getty Images)

Loved-up duo Jeff and Zoe later tied the knot in 2003 at the majestic Hedingham Castle, and celebrated later at the Swan Hotel in Lavenham.

Among the guests were some familiar faces from Emmerdale, including Emma Atkins, who portrays Cains former flame Charity Tate, and Charley Webb, better known as his on-screen daughter Debbie.

Then, in 2005, Zoe and Jeff welcomed a little girl named Violet into their lives. In 2008, they had a son, Stan, and the family lived in the Yorkshire Dales.

Jeff and Zoe's heartbreaking loss

[Jeff is married to Emmerdale co-star Zoe Henry ]

They went through heartbreak a few years back(Image: (Image: ITV))

Zoe and Jeff are avid animal lovers and have had several pets over the years. In 2020, Jeff revealed the family had adopted a puppy dog named Ronald.

He said on Loose Women at the time: Hes kept us busy and is a great focus for us as a family. Weve got another dog called Rita, whos a cockapoo, and shes nine, and Stan said the other day because hes 12 he kind of said: You know I dont remember Rita being a puppy.

Jeff added: So hes getting to relive the experience the full experience of having a young dog again, which is great.

However, in 2024, the family suffered a sad loss when their Rita dog passed away. Appearing on Lorraine in April that year, Zoe revealed the family would be getting a new dog.

We lost our dear old doggy Rita back in February, which was truly awful. It feels not the right time, but its never going to be the right time, Zoe shared. She added, So Geraldine is arriving in the house on Friday. Not sure whats going to happen, but its going to be fun."

Jeff's life-changing diagnosis

[The happy couple got together back in 1994]

Zoe has supported Jeff amid his illness(Image: WireImage)

When Jeff was 18, he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and has had several hospital stays due to his condition. He had been experiencing stomach cramps and diarrhea for six years prior to his diagnosis.

Speaking to Express.co.uk in 2009, he revealed: Even though I tried to avoid foods that upset my digestive system, such as coffee and Chinese takeaways, I was still sick and tired, and I kept losing weight.

I was a drama student in Manchester, and sometimes I had to miss lectures because I was too tired. I even had to drop out of my final year plays.The actor was diagnosed with the condition after being referred by his GP to a specialist at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

In 2019, Zoe opened up about her husbands condition and heartbreakingly revealed that the diagnosis had changed their lives. Speaking on Loose Women, Zoe said: He was diagnosed when he was about 18, so he was 23 when I met him, and its sort of changed our lives.

But Zoe revealed one particular thing that helps Jeff manage living with Crohns disease - their allotment. She said: Theres a lot to be said about mental health and having your hands in the soil - thats a big one for me.

For Jeff, its the health benefits of eating what weve grown. It's great to share with my kids, too. Not that they love it, they hate it. But I'm working on that!

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX

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