Actor Mark Jordon is best known for his portrayal of café waiter Daz Spencer in the ITV soap Emmerdale but you may not know that the star has an ex-wife who is arguably even more famous.
Mark joined the cast of Emmerdale in August 2017, becoming a regular cast member until Daz was written out on January 31, 2019. He is also recognised for playing PC Phil Bellamy in the hit TV series Heartbeat.
But not many will know that Jordon was once married to well-known actress Siobhan Finneran. They wed in 1997 but divorced in 2014 and the pair share two children together, Joseph and Poppy.
Siobhan played Janice Garvey, a leading character in the first seven series of ITV sitcom Benidorm between 2007–2015. You might also recognise her from Rita, Sue and Bob Too, Coronation Street, Downton Abbey, Happy Valley and Unforgiven.
She was nominated for the 2017 British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress. Mark's current partner is Emmerdale co-star Laura Norton and the pair have recently been on a campaign to raise awareness for a rare genetic condition which affects their children.
On January 29, 2021, Laura gave birth to a son called Jesse and in October 2022 the engaged couple had their second child, baby daughter Ronnie. The pair have shared their heartbreak as both their children have been diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disease that affects both hearing and vision.
In a recent interview with Hello! Magazine, Mark said: "We've agonised about doing this before we've even told our children about their condition... we're going to write them a letter to explain why we did this and show then when they're old enough to understand."
The couple were first concerned about their son's health when he failed standard hearing tests but they didn't learn that it was Usher Syndrome until they were expecting their second child Ronnie. Laura said: "Knowing that we'd passed this on to our son was heart-breaking, to watch our little boy enjoy the world around him yet know so much will be taken from him, was painful."
Mark added: ""Although it was devastating when Ronnie was diagnosed with the same condition as her brother, it was comforting that neither of them will go through this on their own; that they've got each other. As they grow up, Jesse will be the best influence and support for her."
Jesse now wears a hearing aid and the couple are looking to raise awareness and help other parents with children who have been diagnosed with the condition. Mark will be lobbying MPs in Parliament this week about raising awareness of Usher syndrome and campaign for funding.
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