‘I am so lucky’ Jeff Hordley’s tearful tribute to Emmerdale star wife amid huge win

Okay, I watch the National Television Awards for potential scandals, slip-ups and gossip.

But now I have something in my eye. Thanks a lot for that, Jeff Hordley!

The talented actor was celebrated on the night as he won the coveted Best Serial Drama Performance prize for his portrayal of Cain Dingle during a long played out prostate cancer story.

He humbly defeated heavy competition from EastEnders icon Paul Bradley and his highly talented colleague Aaron Thiara and Coronation Street powerhouses Sue Devaney and Gareth Pierce.

Let’s face it – as Jeff indicated himself – any of them deserved the win.

The notoriously shy actor, who is very different to hardman Cain, I can assure you, took to the stage to accept the gong, and spent the majority of his time paying tribute to the issue of prostate cancer and the people he worked alongside who helped educate himself on it.

Not to mention his own father-in-law too.

The couple live a more private life, enjoying their gardening lifestyle (Picture: Getty) A humble Jeff accepts his prize (Picture: Getty)

Natalie J Robb, known as Cain’s passionate wife Moira (one of soap’s most chaotically enduring couples, utter faves to me), presented the prize to her colleague and ‘wing-man’.

But the most love Jeff threw into the crowd, alongside his own children Violet and Stan, was to wife Zoe Henry, his soulmate he met on the show itself.

Tears in his eyes and voice cracking, he thanked her in the most emotional way and, yep, she was crying too.

Weren’t we all!?

The emotional scenes held the attention of voting fans (Picture: ITV)

Jeff and Zoe married in 2003. Recently, they launched their own social media gardening channel, presenting tips on their joint passion.

Jeff is also a part-time DJ and, when interviewed, is always graceful, humble and grateful to the colleagues at Emmerdale around him. #

But tonight was all his. Well, kind of.

It was a whopper of a night for the show as a whole too as Emmerdale took home the Serial Drama (okay, a soap to us unwashed) Award.

It comes after an explosive set of weeks which saw a mammoth car crash and explosion, killed off two characters, saw the big reveal of Kim Tate’s daughter, exposed Charity’s baby betrayal and re-introduced Sadie King to a stinger slap or two.

I’m not saying it was pre-planned timing wise. But I’m not NOT saying that either.

Congratulations to the well deserved show in a turbulent year for soap.

And of course, to the enduring love of Jeff and Zoe. Marriage goals in abundance.

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