Emmerdale actress Zoe Henry has shared a deeply personal insight into her husband and fellow cast member Jeff Hordley's ongoing health battle with Crohn's disease. The couple, who have been married since 2003 and share two children, have navigated this challenging condition throughout their relationship.
A Lifelong Diagnosis
Jeff Hordley, renowned for playing Cain Dingle on the long-running ITV soap, was first diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of eighteen. This inflammatory digestive condition has significantly impacted his life, leading to multiple hospital admissions over the years.
Zoe Henry, who portrays Rhona Goskirk on Emmerdale, heartbreakingly revealed during a 2019 appearance on Loose Women that the diagnosis has been life-changing for them both. "He was diagnosed when he was about eighteen, so he was twenty-three when I met him, and it's sort of changed our lives," she confessed.
Symptoms and Early Struggles
Before receiving his diagnosis, Jeff endured six years of distressing symptoms including severe stomach cramps and persistent diarrhoea. In a 2009 interview with Express.co.uk, he described how the condition affected his daily life and education.
"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," Hordley explained. "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."
Finding Solace in Simple Pleasures
Despite the challenges, the couple have discovered therapeutic ways to manage Jeff's condition. Zoe highlighted their allotment as a particularly beneficial aspect of their routine, emphasising both the mental and physical health advantages.
"There's a lot to be said about mental health and having your hands in the soil - that's a big one for me," she revealed. "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!"
Medical Journey and Diagnosis
Jeff's path to diagnosis involved referral from his GP to a specialist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he finally received confirmation of Crohn's disease. This autoimmune condition, which causes inflammation of the digestive tract, requires ongoing management and can significantly affect quality of life.
The actor's openness about his health struggles has helped raise awareness about inflammatory bowel diseases and their impact on individuals and families.
Continuing Professional Success
Despite his health challenges, Jeff Hordley has maintained a successful acting career, becoming one of Emmerdale's most recognisable characters as Cain Dingle. Zoe Henry similarly continues to be a central figure on the soap, currently involved in significant storylines including a dramatic encounter with a character supposedly killed off in 2020.
Emmerdale continues to air Monday through Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX, featuring both actors in their respective roles.
