Jill Halfpenny, the acclaimed actress starring in Channel 5's gripping new thriller Number One Fan, has shared poignant details about her personal life away from the cameras. The 50-year-old star, known for her powerful performances, brings depth to the role of Lucy Logan, a daytime TV presenter whose life unravels after encountering an obsessed fan.
The Thriller: Number One Fan
The chilling drama, airing this week, follows Lucy Logan (Halfpenny) as her seemingly perfect existence is shattered by Donna (Sally Lindsay), a dangerously obsessed admirer. Speaking about the series, which was filmed in Spain, Halfpenny explained: "I think people will enjoy Number One Fan because it is set in a world that we all know and that we all maybe have a love/hate relationship with. Some people don't like daytime television, some people absolutely live for it. But it's very familiar. And it's not a world that gets delved into that often – people having hushed conversations in dressing-rooms."
Famous Family: Niece Chelsea Halfpenny
Born in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Halfpenny was made a Freeman of the Borough of Gateshead in 2013 for her contributions to theatre, television, and charity. Talent runs in the family: her niece, Chelsea Halfpenny, 34, is a well-known actress for her roles as Amy Wyatt in Emmerdale and Alicia Munroe in BBC's Casualty. Chelsea has also shone on stage, playing Jenna Hunterson in the 2022 touring production of Waitress. She is married to James Baxter, also a former Emmerdale star, and they have a daughter.
Heartbreaking Loss: Partner Matt Janes
Halfpenny has spoken candidly about the tragic death of her partner, Matt Janes, in 2017. During a podcast appearance in 2019, she described the anguish of losing him to a heart attack while he was exercising at the gym. She noted the eerie similarity to her father's death: "In January 2017, my partner, in very similar circumstances to my dad, he went to a Peloton class at the gym, and he had a heart attack and died. My grief at losing Matt was so brutal and so shocking but then what happened was it brought out all of the grief from my dad as well. It was like dealing with a double loss – a loss I'd never actually dealt with. I just found myself thinking, 'Oh my god, this is unbearable. What am I going to do? I cannot cope. I just want cessation, this feeling to stop.'"
Ex-Husband Craig Conway
Halfpenny married actor Craig Conway in 2007, and they had a son, Harvey. The couple moved from Northumberland to London to pursue their acting careers and raise their child, but they separated in 2010. By 2013, Conway, known for roles in Vera and The Fades, revealed they had maintained a strong friendship. He said: "We care for each other an awful lot but we were happier to be good parents - that's why we made our decision. It was one of those things but we are good friends and good working colleagues. There's been no negatives in this split - it's working out great. We live 20 minutes apart in London and Harvey spends lots of time with both of us. She's got a new partner and I get on really well with him and I've started seeing someone too. The other week all of us went for a picnic in Hyde Park with Harvey and it was great."
Number One Fan airs on Channel 5 from 9pm on May 4.
