Plot shows the reality for victims
giving 110 per cent on set and he has been keeping the house going.
“I take my hat off to him because I know that is just as hard as coming into work every day.”
Jeff also gets on well with Jonathan, who often stays over at their house after filming because he lives on the other side of the Pennines – a long drive from the Leeds set.
Zoe said: “We have lots of sleepovers. If we have a heavy week, rather than stay in a hotel, he comes to stay at ours RESEARCH shows that almost one third (30 per cent) of women worldwide who have been in a relationship have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner.
In 2015-16, 1692 rapes and 117 attempted rapes were reported to police in Scotland.
In the same period, 10,273 sexual offences were reported – up seven per cent on the previous year.
The national survey of sexual attitudes and lifestyles found that one in 10 women in Scotland has experienced rape.
One in five women in Scotland has had someone try to make them have sex against their will.
Sexual abuse occurs more often at home – in 37 per cent of cases – than in any other location. ● The free Rape Crisis Scotland helpline 08088 01 03 02 is open every day from 6pm to midnight. and we can run lines. I guess it is odd to the outside world but Johnny is just my colleague and that’s how it is.”
Jeff has been an Emmerdale stalwart for years, playing bad boy Cain Dingle since 2000.
Zoe, who has also been in Coronation Street and EastEnders, first appeared as Rhona in Emmerdale in 2001. Bosses decided to bring her back for a bigger role seven years ago.
She had no qualms about working in the same show as Jeff. She said: “My concern wasn’t whether we could make it work, but about leaving Stanley because I was still breastfeeding.
“But it is nice to get back to work and be yourself. It is stressful and a juggling act but show me a parent who doesn’t have that going on?
“I am extremely keen on giving my daughter and son a strong role model of a working mum.”
Zoe’s performances have earned her a nomination for best actress in next month’s British Soap Awards, alongside her Emmerdale co-stars Natalie J Robb and Charlotte Bellamy.
She said: “It is a real honour. We are three mid-40s ladies and we are proud that our age bracket is being represented so well for once.”
But these awards could be her last as Rhona, with rumours that the storyline could end in Pierce killing his new wife.
Zoe isn’t giving much away but if Emmerdale follows the terrifying domestic abuse statistics, her character’s future could be very much in jeopardy.
She said: “The first statistic I read was that one woman every week dies in this country at the hands of a partner.
“And where there is a relationship with mental abuse, when violence does happen that usually ends in death. I found that quite shocking.
“I love Emmerdale, I skip into work every day because it is such a happy ship,
“I would love to stay but it is not me in charge. I genuinely don’t know where this story goes but I hope this story can help people.”