Coronation Street star Alexandra Mardell has paid an emotional tribute to her late father following her gorgeous wedding.
The actress, 29, who played Emma Brooker in the soap, sadly lost her dad, Michael in 2016.
The 54-year-old died from cardiomyopathy, which stops the heart pumping blood effectively around the body.
However, after her heartbreaking loss, the Strictly star wanted to make sure Michael's presence was felt on her special day - and did so with a touching tribute.
Shortly after her dad died, Alexandra had a patchwork blanket made, which featured her father's name Michael Mardell.
"We had a blanket made out of Dad’s shirts and set up on a chair throughout the ceremony," Alexandra explained. "It felt like we had him with us.
Alexandra's stepdad Mick walked her down the aisle, as she shared: “I was really glad to have him there. He calmed me down and we just had a laugh on the way," reports OK! magazine.
When Alexandra's father passed away suddenly three years ago, the actress was shocked to learn that he had been suffering from undiagnosed cardiomyopathy.
Tragically, in some cases, the condition can can lead to cardiac arrest – and caused Michael to suffer a fatal heart attack.
Cardiomyopathy is often hereditary, and at an inquest, Alexandra and her siblings were all advised to be tested to see if they had the gene.
To her relief, the actress, who made her debut as bubbly barmaid Emma in Corrie in 2018, was told she was free of the disease.
However, it wasn't all good news as Alexandra then discovered that she had a hole in her heart.
Medically known as a septal defect, a hole in the heart is a type of congenital heart disease, where a gap appears between two of the heart’s chambers.
Typical symptoms include rapid heartbeat and breathing, swelling of the legs, stomach or around the eyes and extreme tiredness and fatigue.
Alexandra said: “It’s not related to the cardiomyopathy whatsoever – it’s a total coincidence but obviously an issue I need to keep an eye on.
“Luckily, it hasn’t caused me any major problems so far. I need check-ups every five years and if there are issues in the future it’s something they are able to close up. It only came to light when I was being tested for cardiomyopathy – if it hadn’t been for that test I would never have known.”
The award-winning actress tied tied the knot with beau Joe on 19 March at The Tithe Barn in Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, in front of 90 guests.
The couple met at drama school, before getting together in 2017.
Joe popped the question in April 2021, as Alexandra took to social media to share the happy news with a snap of her sparkler, saying: "Love locked down!! 1000000 times yes!"
