Heartbeat star Tricia Penrose has reportedly split from her husband Mark Simpkin after 18 years together.
Tricia is best known for playing barmaid Gina Ward in the long-running ITV drama, while Mark is a former TV presenter seen on shows such as GMTV, This Morning and Coronation Street.
According to The Sun, an insider said: “They decided to go their separate ways after realising they had grown apart and it would be better for everyone.”
The couple have two sons together and it is now believed Tricia and Mark live separately in Cheshire.
Tricia has recently gone into a different type of career in the media by presenting on Radio Wirral, following appearances on Celebrity Big Brother, Heartbeat spin-off The Royal, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
(Image: ITV)
She was a beloved character in Heartbeat during her tenure as Gina in the show.
Tricia joined in series two and remained part of the cast until the show ended in 2010.
Her character on the show was full of drama with Gina’s love of her life PC Phil Bellamy’s death making her a widow and later gave birth to their son towards the end of series 17. Gina also had a complicated love life with relationships with other officers and an affair with Andy Ryan in the show.
(Image: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)
Her last acting appearances came in series called Crime Stories and Justice in 2012.
Tricia has made several appearances on shows since included Celebrity Pointless and Celebrity Big Brother, sharing the house along with Rylan Clark and Heidi and Spencer Montag in 2013.
Meanwhile, Mark’s career was a mixture of presenting on GMTV, LK Today and acting, including playing two characters in Coronation Street in 1992 and 2000.
He has now changed careers completely and is a local businessman in the Cheshire area. He is also a funeral director after discovering it is one of the most rewarding careers.
(Image: Mcpix Ltd/REX/Shutterstock)
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Both Mark and Tricia opened the Adlington Memorial Park, which is England’s largest private natural burial ground, together back in 2016.
The couple held a fairytale wedding at a star-studded ceremony at Adlington Hall, Cheshire in 2003 with the photos being sold to Hello!.
They actually renewed their vows in 2013 as Tricia dawned her wedding dress again with photos sold to the magazine.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
