Emmerdale actor Joe-Warren Plant, who has played Jacob Gallagher on the ITV soap since 2010, has faced his own share of heartbreak away from the cameras. His personal struggles have included the death of his mother and two high-profile relationship splits.
On-screen drama and real-life loss
On screen, Jacob has endured the death of his mum Leyla (Roxy Shahidi), being groomed, and a recent bullying ordeal at work at the hands of Dr. Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker). In real life, Joe's mother tragically passed away from liver complications at the age of 47 in 2022.
Speaking previously to the Mirror, Joe said he 'owed everything' to his parents. "They encouraged me to join a theatre school near our home in Blackpool when I was four to boost my confidence. They then pushed me to take up this role. They couldn't have been more supportive, and I don't feel I've missed out at all. I am a normal person with a different job!"
Reflecting on his mum's passing, he added: "Mum was so supportive and such an amazing person. I miss her a lot."
Relationship splits
Joe was previously involved with model Nicole Hadlow from 2017 until 2021. The couple were cohabiting when Joe chose to leave their joint residence as he began preparing for Dancing on Ice. At the time, Joe told The Sun: "Dancing on Ice has come at a good time for me physically and mentally."
"Relationships are hard to kind of deal with. It has helped to take my mind off of it slightly, having to focus and train all day, every day. Even when you're not training, and you're at home, you've got to take the recovery aspect into terms. It's helped taking my mind off it, but things are still tough to be fair."
Following his split from Nicole, Joe-Warren went Instagram official with new model girlfriend Anna Norton in 2022. The pair bought a property in Blackpool in 2022 and shared a cat together. However, their relationship hit troubled waters in 2024, and the pair called it quits after two years.
A source told The Sun: "Joe and Anna are over, it's very sad, but they are still very young. It hasn't been the amicable split they were hoping for, and they aren't speaking now at all."
New relationship
Joe-Warren made his relationship with new girlfriend Isabella official in January 2025. The couple has been going from strength to strength, enjoying several sun-drenched holidays together. Last year, they jetted off to Barcelona and shared a series of romantic snaps from their trip.
Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
