From a cancer battle to hallucinating in a hotel room for four days, we take a look at the struggles Emmerdale stars have faced behind the scenes
Emmerdale has established itself as one of the UK’s beloved soaps – but for some of its cherished cast, they have endured some tragic health battles.
Since the ITV show began way back in 1972 it has introduced viewers to several iconic characters and actors, like Cain Dingle star Jeff Hordley and Kim Tate actress Claire King.
However, despite all the fame and fortune that the cast have accumulated, over the years they have encountered private difficulties behind the scenes.
From battling cancer to suffering a debilitating issue, we take a look at the hardships that Emmerdale stars have navigated.
Michael Parr
Michael Parr – who plays Ross Barton on Emmerdale – revealed in 2024 that he was previously rushed to hospital after falling ill and spending four days in a hotel room hallucinating.
The actor was in India at the time filming a Bollywood film. Mike told the Mirror: “I dropped about 20lb in four days and my cheekbones were starting to protrude.
“I’d been in my room hallucinating for four days. I didn’t know what was going on. I was delirious. I’m a massive chess player and I was so out of it I kept thinking I was a chess piece.”
Once he was in hospital, doctors suspected he had Legionnaire’s Disease. They treated him for severe dehydration before putting him on a drip.
He added: “Being taken to hospital in a foreign country is always scary, but especially when you can’t communicate with the doctors.”
Leah Bracknell
Former Emmerdale actress Leah Bracknell was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal lung cancer in 2016. She played Zoe Tate on the ITV soap from 1993 to 2005.
At the time, fans raised £50,000 on a GoFundMe page in a bid to pay for Leah to have treatment in Germany due to a lack of options on the NHS.
Unfortunately, in 2019 she was told she had just months to live, and penned a ‘cancer rebel manifesto’. She said: “I am a cancer rebel with a fierce heart, an independent mind, a warrior spirit, and an ocean of desire to keep on keeping on and making a difference and making a noise as long as there is sweet breath in my body.”
Sadly, in October 2019, Leah died aged 55.
Jeff Hordley
Soap legend Jeff Hordley – who plays Cain Dingle – was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 1996. The 55-year-old has been dealing with symptoms since he was 20 and has had several hospital stays due to his condition.
Jeff, who is married to Emmerdale co-star Zoe Henry, received his diagnosis just before completing his degree. He had been experiencing stomach cramps and diarrhoea for six years prior to his diagnosis.
He also revealed that his mother had died from the same condition in 1979, leading him to fret that he too would pass away, saying: “My reaction was, ‘Am I going to die too?’”
Doctors reassured Jeff that her death had been caused by complications in surgery – and that medical advancements meant that his condition could be more easily treated. Following his diagnosis, he had surgery to remove the diseased part of the large bowel and to allow his “gut to heal”.
Claire King
Kim Tate actress Claire King has been open about her battle with rheumatoid arthritis over the years. Claire told OK!: “When I was first diagnosed I was worried, as I was ignorant to the ins and outs of it. I was only in my twenties.
“Over the years they’ve improved various treatments, so my doctors are very good. I manage it. I have various pills and injections every week and I just get on with it. There are certain things I can’t do at work, like wearing killer heels for more than five minutes.
“And the costume department has to do up all of my buttons, as it takes me ages. Doing my hair and make-up takes me a bit longer too, as I’ve got metal in some of my fingers.”
She also said: “I struggled to go to work and do the things I love, like horse-riding, because of the terrible pressure it put on my knees.
“I can certainly relate to the ‘invisible disease’ – although my symptoms don’t always show, it doesn’t mean I’m not in pain or feeling exhausted.”
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
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