Emmerdale star Zoe Henry has been married to her co-star Jeff Hordley for more than 20 years and has previously spoken candidly about his health condition.
Emmerdale actress Zoe Henry has previously spoken openly about her husband Jeff Hordley’s “life-changing” health condition.
Zoe plays Rhona Goskirk on the ITV soap, making her first appearance in 2001, although she did not become a regular cast member until 2010.
Since then, she has been involved in a number of major storylines, most recently in Tuesday’s episode (January 20), which saw her come face-to-face with Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), a character who was believed to have been written out in 2020.
Away from the show, Zoe is married to fellow Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain Dingle. The couple tied the knot in 2003 and share two children.
However, the couple have faced significant challenges during their relationship, including Jeff’s diagnosis with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition, reports the Mirror.
Jeff was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 18 and has experienced numerous hospital stays as a result of the illness. He endured abdominal pain and diarrhoea for six years before finally receiving a diagnosis.
In 2019, Zoe opened up about her husband’s condition, revealing how his diagnosis has profoundly impacted their lives. Speaking on Loose Women, she said: “He was diagnosed when he was about 18, so he was 23 when I met him, and it’s really shaped our lives.”
Zoe also highlighted the important role their allotment plays in helping Jeff cope with Crohn’s disease.
She said: “There’s so much to be said for mental health and getting your hands in the soil – that’s really important for me. For Jeff, it’s the health benefits of eating what we’ve grown. It’s also great to share with our kids. Not that they love it – they actually hate it – but I’m working on that!”
Jeff first noticed something was wrong when he began experiencing stomach pain. In a 2009 interview with Express.co.uk, he revealed: “Even though I tried to avoid foods that upset my digestive system, like coffee and Chinese takeaways, I was constantly exhausted, unwell, and losing weight.
“I was a drama student in Manchester and sometimes had to miss lectures because I was too tired. I even had to drop out of my final year plays.”
He was eventually diagnosed after his GP referred him to a specialist at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
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