ITV Emmerdale: Inside Rhona and Cain stars Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley's relationship - first meeting, proposal promise and 'separate existence' at work

Soapland isn't often the place for successful relationships but in the real world, Emmerdale stars Zoe Henry and Jeff Hordley have made it work.

Avid fans of the ITV soap will probably be aware that the acting couple are happily married but the pair have actually been together for 28 years having met way before finding fame in the Dales.

Zoe is best known for playing Emmerdale's Rhona Goskirk who is currently having to face her fiancè Marlon Dingle's fight back to health after suffering a stroke in heartbreaking scenes aired earlier this week. The storyline will follow Marlon's perspective as he faces his toughest battle yet and follow how his family, friends, and loved ones will come to terms with the diagnosis and how it will impact their future and the wider community.

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Meanwhile, Jeff is best known to viewers for playing Emmerdale legend Cain Dingle who will also be featured in Marlon's storyline as they are cousins. Viewers have seen Cain worrying this week as Marlon's health scare reminded him of his own when he was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and had to undergo urgent surgery to get rid of the clot on his brain.

Luckily, Zoe and Jeff's off-screen life is a far cry from what their characters are currently going through.

Forget childhood sweethearts, the couple are drama sweethearts as sparks flew back in 1994 when Zoe and Jeff attended the Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre.

Speaking to Lorraine Kelly on her ITV show earlier this week Zoe said: "We got together at drama school. We've been together 28 years. With the connection on set, we were together for 10 years before that as well. We got together in