Tony Audenshaw, known for playing Bob Hope on Emmerdale since 2000, has endured real-life struggles including homelessness and the death of his wife Ruth from pancreatic cancer in 2017.
Homelessness Ordeal
In 2019, Audenshaw revealed on Loose Women that he experienced homelessness while working at Thorpe Park in the 1980s. Unable to afford a B&B, he slept in his car. 'There were occasions where I didn't have enough for a B&B, so I just parked up and tried to get some kip. It wasn't easy, but you do what you have to do,' he said.
Wife's Cancer Battle
Ruth was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 and died at age 43 in April 2017 after a 16-month battle. The couple had been married since 1996 and had two children, George and Emily. Audenshaw recalled the moment they received the prognosis: 'I remember being very quiet as we walked to the hospital car park, then breaking down in the car. Before we worried about forgetting to put the bin out. Now Ruth was going to be dead within a year after a horrible illness.'
Final Message and Marathon
Ruth left cards for family and friends, including a request for Audenshaw to run the London Marathon for Pancreatic Cancer UK. He resumed running in 2025 on what would have been their 24th wedding anniversary, telling Lorraine Kelly: 'She left all her friends and family a card to read after she died, and in it she said 'if you run London again will you do it for pancreatic cancer?' She also then added something like 'no pressure, if you don't fancy it don't' – which is very Ruth.' He added that a breath test for early cancer detection is on the horizon.
