Emmerdale star Zoe Henry’s sadness after husband Jeff Hordley’s health diagnosis

Emmerdale star Zoe Henry has been married to co-star Jeff Hordley for over two decades and previously opened up about his health condition

Emmerdale actress Zoe Henry has previously spoken candidly about her husband Jeff Hordley’s “life-changing” health condition.

The star portrays Rhona Goskirk on the ITV soap, first appearing in 2001. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until 2010 that she secured a regular spot on the programme.

Since then, Zoe has been at the centre of numerous major plotlines. Particularly recently, as Tuesday’s episode (January 20) saw her come face-to-face with Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough), who was apparently written out in 2020.

Beyond the soap, Zoe is wed to fellow Emmerdale actor Jeff Hordley, who portrays Cain Dingle. The couple married in 2003 and have two children together.

Nevertheless, the pair have faced considerable challenges throughout their relationship, including Jeff’s diagnosis with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel condition, reports the Mirror.

Jeff received his Crohn’s Disease diagnosis at 18 and has endured multiple hospital admissions because of his illness. He had been suffering from abdominal pain and diarrhoea for six years before receiving his diagnosis.

In 2019, Zoe discussed her husband’s condition and poignantly disclosed how the diagnosis has transformed their lives. Appearing on Loose Women, Zoe explained: “He was diagnosed when he was about 18, so he was 23 when I met him, and it’s sort of changed our lives.”

However, Zoe shared that their allotment plays a significant role in helping Jeff manage his Crohn’s disease.

She explained: “There’s a lot to be said about mental health and having your hands in the soil – that’s a big one for me.

“For Jeff, it’s the health benefits of eating what we’ve grown. It’s great to share with my kids as well. Not that they love it, they hate it. But I’m working on that!”.

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Jeff first became aware of his condition when he started experiencing stomach pain. In a 2009 interview with Express.co.uk, he disclosed: “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 eventually diagnosed with the condition after his GP referred him to a specialist at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

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