Emmerdale's Cain Dingle is currently fighting prostate cancer on the ITV soap, but actor Jeff Hordley has been open about his own real-life health battle. The 56-year-old star, who first joined the show in March 2000, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age 26 after experiencing symptoms since he was 20.
Crohn's Disease Diagnosis
Jeff, a former ambassador for Crohn's & Colitis UK, has spoken candidly about his condition. In a 2009 interview, he revealed that doctors initially suspected irritable bowel syndrome, but he pushed for answers as symptoms persisted. He said: '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.'
According to the NHS, Crohn's disease is a chronic condition causing inflammation in the gut. There is no cure, but treatments can manage symptoms. Jeff has since stopped medication, using diet and exercise to control his condition. He explained: 'I've now managed to keep it under wraps because of diet... we eat very much seasonally; we eat from our allotment. That's how I've managed to do it and exercise.'
Soap Storyline Inspires Real-Life Action
Jeff recently revealed that his character's prostate cancer storyline prompted him to undergo a PSA test. He said: 'I'm 56, and I've been for a PSA test already because of this storyline. There's other people in the company of a similar age to me who've gone, "I'm going to the doctors to get a PSA test".'
Personal Life
Jeff married Emmerdale co-star Zoe Henry in 2005. The couple met at drama school in 1994 and have two children. Zoe has praised Jeff for managing home life while she works, saying: 'He's just taking the weight of what's going on at home... we'll swap the baton then.'
Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX.
