Emmerdale actor Chris Chittell, known for playing Eric Pollard, is married to his co-star Lesley Dunlop, who played Brenda Walker in the ITV soap. The couple tied the knot in June 2016.
Longest-serving actor
The 78-year-old has played Eric Pollard since 1986, making him the longest-serving actor in the soap's history. Originally a villain, Eric has become a beloved character in the Yorkshire village.
During his time in Emmerdale, Eric has been married six times on screen, including to Val Lambert (Charlie Hardwick) and Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton), whom he married on Christmas Eve in 2025.
Real-life romance
Chris and Lesley met on set. In a 2012 interview with the Daily Record, Chris said: "Everyone thinks it's the younger members of the cast who have all the fun but we more mature ones do too."
He added: "It was weird. Somehow we'd never met before and we just kept bumping into each other at work. I can't remember if I asked her for a date or she asked me but she is wonderful and we're very happy."
Chris also said they avoid talking about Emmerdale at home and sometimes get strange looks when out together. He has two children with ex-wife Caroline Hunt, while Lesley has two children with former partner Christopher Guard.
