Heartbeat star Tricia Penrose, aged 56, appeared to take a subtle dig at her ex-husband Mark Simpkin as she walked down the aisle for the second time during a lavish ceremony at Briars Hall Country Club in Lancashire on Saturday. The actress, best known for playing barmaid Gina Bellamy in the ITV soap from 1993 to 2010, took to X (formerly Twitter) with a series of romantic snapshots alongside her new husband, Chris Hargreaves, whom she described as the 'love of her life'.
A Stunning Bridal Look
Tricia looked breathtaking in a white lace bridal gown featuring a Bardot neckline, a fitted bodice, and a full princess skirt. She completed her ensemble with a veil, while the groom, Chris, opted for a light green suit paired with a crisp white shirt and a dark tie. The actress captioned her post: 'Married the love of my life yesterday'.
Outpouring of Congratulations
Fans and friends were quick to flood the comments with well-wishes, with many gushing: 'Did you say yes in a heartbeat?', 'Congratulations xxx', 'You look amazing, congratulations to both of you', and 'Wishing you many happy years together'.
From Divorce to New Beginnings
The newlyweds went Instagram official back in 2021, shortly after news of her divorce from Mark Simpkin emerged. Their relationship blossomed, and last summer, Chris proposed during a sun-soaked holiday in Tenerife. Tricia and her ex-husband Mark, with whom she shares sons Jake, 22, and Freddy, 17, split after 18 years of marriage. A source told The Sun at the time: 'They decided to go their separate ways after realising they had grown apart and it would be better for everyone that they ended the marriage.'
Previous Marriage and Vow Renewal
The couple originally married in 2003 after a picturesque ceremony at Adlington Hall in Cheshire. They renewed their vows in 2013, with the actress describing the event as a 'celebration' of a decade together. The former couple met at the National Television Awards in 2001, dated for three years, and then tied the knot before jetting off to Bermuda for a tropical honeymoon. In 2015, Mark told Northern Life Magazine: 'I know this sounds really tacky, but as well as Tricia being my wife, she's also my best friend. We don't fall out; we work well as a team.'
Tricia's Career and Life After Heartbeat
Tricia shot to fame with her role in Heartbeat, also appearing in spin-off show The Royal as well as soaps Brookside, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale. She has also participated in Comic Relief Does Fame Academy and Celebrity Big Brother in 2013, where she was evicted in the semi-final. Since then, she has moved into radio presenting, working on Radio Wirral. Clearly proud of her time on the 1960s drama, her Instagram bio still reads: 'I played the part of Gina in ITV's Heartbeat for 18 years.' The Liverpool-born star became a pin-up after playing pub worker Gina in the Aidensfield Arms. When her uncle, the pub's owner, died in the series, she became landlady and later married local bobby PC Phil Bellamy (Mark Jordan). The arrival of their son, Philip, brought series 17 to a heartwarming end.
