Inside Emmerdale's Eric star Chris Chittell's life off screen with co-star wife

Hollyoaks star Nick Pickard, who is the longest-serving cast member playing the role of Tony Hutchinson, is entering the jungle on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! Nick, 48 is best known for his role in the hit Channel 4 soap having joined the show as Tony when it launched in 1995 but has also appeared in a string of other TV and quiz shows. He studied at the Sylvia Young Theatre School and Corona Theatre School and has been nominated for several awards over the years - in 2017, he won the British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement. What fans might not know is that he also owns a few restaurants in Sheffield and has a daughter named Ellie.

Coronation Street's Bernie Winter, played by actress Jane Hazlegrove, has become a fan favourite since her arrival in Weatherfield four years ago. Initially described as an "old raver who still sees herself as a free spirit", she's shown her strength as the straight-talking mum of Gemma Winter and Paul Foreman.The soap star has been at the heart of some huge storylines since joining the hit ITV soap in 2019. Earlier this year viewers saw a softer side to Bernie after learning that her son Paul (Peter Ash) was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a life-limiting disease.

Emmerdale fans think they have rumbled what will happen next after Jacob Gallagher inadvertently discovered Eric Pollard's diagnosis. There were emotional scenes in the ITV soap last week when Eric was seen telling Mandy Dingle that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Emmerdale fans were left devastated following the latest episode as Eric Pollard (played by Chris Chittell) delivered a cruel and low blow when he broke up with his girlfriend Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop). The heartbreaking scenes, which were a far cry from the exciting news that Torvill and Dean are appearing in the Dales for a special Christmas episode, were particularly hard for viewers as they knew the truth - that Eric was only making the decision to end his relationship as a result of discovering he had Parkinson's disease.

We know them best for playing fan favourite couple Brenda Walker and Eric Pollard on Emmerdale, but one thing many viewers may not know, is that actors Lesley Dunlop and Chris Chittel are also a couple in real life too. Romance originally blossomed for the couple after the pair crossed paths while filming back in 2008, when Lesley first joined the cast of the iconic ITV soap as shopkeeper Brenda.This week, Erica and Brenda's solid romance faced its greatest test yet, when Eric brutally dumped Brenda, as he sought to protect her from his heartbreaking Parkinson's disease diagnosis.

Charlie Hardwick became a well-loved character in Emmerdale as she played the role of Val Pollard for 12 years, that was until a helicopter crashed into the village and she was written out of the soap. Looking for a new venture, the TV favourite went on to star in Channel 4's Ackley Bridge as Sue Carp and is her last TV appearance.The 63 year old has also appeared in the children's drama Byker Grove and even had a role in Billy Elliott. Let's take a closer look at her impressive career from the horror Emmerdale exit storyline to a comedy role...

Emmerdale's Sam Dingle has been on our screens since 1995 and is a firm favourite with fans of the ITV soap. Sam, played by James Hooton, has been through countless storylines over the years.

There were tears in Emmerdale this week as Eric Pollard revealed his devastating diagnosis. The character, played by actor Chris Chittell, was seen breaking down to Mandy Dingle as he told her he has Parkinson's disease.

Emmerdale's Mandy Dingle, played by Lisa Riley, shared her real-life journey from a 12-stone weight loss to dealing with painful side effects. The actress wowed fans when she revealed she'd slimmed down from a size 28 to a size 12 over 18 months, swapping takeaways for gym workouts and healthy meals. However, Lisa's transformation was just the start of her journey to body confidence.

One of Emmerdale's legendary characters was seen being given a heartbreaking diagnosis which could lead to a surprise exit for the big star. During Wednesday night's trip to the Dales (November 1), viewers saw Lydia Dingle's lock-in at the Woolpack continue.

Emmerdale legend Eric Pollard has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, in some heartbreaking scenes. Eric is played by the soap’s longest-serving star, Chris Chittell, and has been in the village for 37 years.

Over the years, several of our favourite Emmerdale characters have battled with gruelling illnesses, with everything from vascular dementia and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, through to terminal cancer and schizophrenia. But the latest dales resident to sadly suffer a life-changing illness, is fan favourite Eric Pollard, who received a devastating diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in heartbreaking scenes which aired on Wednesday, 1 November.

Friends star Courteney Cox has been with her very famous husband for a decade after being introduced by Ed Sheeran. Courteney, 59, who is best known for her iconic role as Monica Geller, has been in a long-term relationship with Snow Patrol musician Johnny McDaid. While they got engaged just a year after dating they are yet to walk down the aisle.The pair were first introduced by their mutual friend Ed Sheeran and started dating in September 2013.They kept their relationship quiet until rumours began to emerge in December 2013 after they were spotted attending co-star Jennifer Aniston’s Christmas party together.

Friends star Lisa Kudrow tends to keep her private life with her husband and son out of the spotlight, despite being worldwide recognised for her role as Phoebe Buffay. Lisa, 60, has been married to her husband Michel Stern since 1995 and together they have a son called Julian Murray Stern. While Lisa admitted she finds it hard to rewatch herself in Friends, Michel loves watching his wife of almost three decades in the iconic sitcom.

Jessie Ware has been on our radar for years.The 39 year old musician first came to attention way back in 2012 when she released her debut album, Devotion.The record received critical acclaim and was even nominated for that year's Mercury Prize. Following her early success, Jessie then went on to release a string of other albums and singles, all of which have been incredibly well received - most recently, 2023's That! Feels Good! which produced the feel good single, 'Free Yourself'.Thanks to these musical talents, Jessie has also been nominated for six Brit Awards over the years.

A number of Emmerdale actors have been left saying 'oh my God' as their co-star Bradley Johnson shared some special news. The actor took to Instagram on Sunday (October 29) to offer an update from his holiday with girlfriend Sammie Johnstone.

Emmerdale fans are convinced they've rumbled a secret twist following the latest instalment, as there was an unexpected storyline development that revealed Craig Reed had been killed. As the character lay dead in a field outside the village, a dramatic montage started to play out that showed it could be any number of the Dingle family members.

Since first arriving on our screens back in March 2021, EastEnders star James Farrar has captured the heart of the nation with his portrayal of Zack Hudson in the iconic BBC soap. The 36 year old actor has delighted audiences at home with Zack’s antics over the years, which have included a selection of very rocky romances with everyone from Nancy Carter to Sam Mitchell, Janine Butcher and most recently Whitney Dean.

Emmerdale icon Sammy Winward is returning to TV, eight years after quitting the ITV soap to pursue a "normal" career. Sammy, 38, joined Emmerdale as Katie Sugden in 2001 when she was just 15 years old and was introduced as Andy Sugden’s first girlfriend. She was at the heart of some dramatic storylines over the years which saw her get married, have numerous affairs and suffer a miscarriage, as well as shattering her pelvis after a fall.

Hannah Tointon is probably best known for playing the role of Katy Fox in the E4 soap, Hollyoaks.The actor portrayed the character on and off for 10 years before finally saying goodbye to the show in 2017, when it was revealed that Katy had tragically passed away from a drug overdose. Throughout her time in Hollyoaks, Hannah was able to sink her teeth into some gritty storylines, including dealing with her murderous brother Warren, being kidnapped by Clare Cunningham and her numerous romances. However, despite such a dramatic decade on the soap, Hannah shared that it was time for her to leave to pursue other things.