“Rodney Blackstock has been a central figure on Emmerdale since 2000, but the actor behind the role keeps his personal life and family well out of the public eye.”
Emmerdale favourite Rodney Blackstock has been a staple in the Dales for more than 20 years, securing his spot as one of the soap’s longest-running and most beloved characters.
Since his debut in 2000, Rodney (played by Patrick Mower) has been at the centre of countless storylines, from romance and family drama to life-or-death moments that had viewers on the edge of their seats. Most recently, fans saw Rodney support village favourite Mary Goskirk as she explored the world of online dating, proving once again that he’s always involved in the action.
Over the years, Rodney has faced numerous dramatic twists, including a frightening stroke storyline in 2018 that had fans fearing the worst for his character. Fortunately, Rodney made a full recovery, much to the delight of his loyal viewers.
Away from the drama of Emmerdale village, Patrick Mower, the actor behind Rodney, leads a much quieter life, keeping his personal affairs well out of the spotlight.
Patrick has been happily married to Anya Pope since 1996. While Rodney is known for his flirtatious antics on-screen, Patrick’s real-life romance is far more low-key. Anya, reportedly 30 years his junior, is said to be a children’s author, and the couple live together in Louth, Lincolnshire, away from the Leeds studios where Emmerdale is filmed.
Patrick has spoken warmly about his wife, once noting: “If I could choose a girlfriend for Rodney in Emmerdale, she would be just like Anya — she is fantastic and my ideal woman.”
Anya is Patrick’s second wife. He was previously married to Audrey Giles and also had a seven-year relationship with actress Suzanne Danielle.
Family life clearly means a great deal to the veteran actor. Patrick and Anya share a son, Maxim, who is now 25, while Patrick also has two older children — son Simon and daughter Claudia — from his first marriage.
Reflecting on becoming a father later in life, Patrick once said he was “enjoying the whole thing,” adding: “It is so wonderful, especially when you are an older father, you appreciate the actual wonder of a baby. His tiny fingers and nails and the way he changes almost daily in his growth — it is a thing of joy. I would recommend being an older parent to anybody.”
Now 87, Patrick holds the distinction of being Emmerdale’s longest-serving cast member, though even he was surprised by this milestone. For years, he believed he was born in 1940, only to later discover that his birth had never been registered — and that he was actually born on September 12, 1938.
With a career dating back to the 1960s, Patrick has enjoyed decades in front of the camera, from early roles in series like The Avengers to his breakthrough performance in Callan, long before establishing himself as a soap legend.
- General Hospital spoilers reveal Willow mocks Drew for taking his congressional seat.
- Coronation Street actor returns to filming 12 years after first appearance on the soap.
- EastEnders actor announces engagement to girlfriend 20 years his junior following marriage split.
- Emmerdale farm crisis after barn falls, sparking concerns over potential deaths
- Fugitive resembling Ian Beale wanted for allegedly scamming elderly women out of £400k
