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Emmerdale’s iconic character Eric Pollard is at the centre of a big storyline coming up, as he finds himself in a dangerous position.
And while we won’t give much more away to save you from spoilers, it’s set to be a dramatic one for the star who has been on the soap for a very long time indeed.
Eric is played by actor Christopher Chittell and he is the soap’s longest-serving actor having played the part since 1986.
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Christopher, 72, joined the cast in June of that year and his scenes first aired in late September of that same year.
But how much do we know about the soap legend away from tense storylines and cameras? Let’s take a look…
Who is Chris Chittell?
The 72 year old actor was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, and his father served in the Indian Army.
Chris planned on joining the Royal Navy but instead became a model and then pursued a career in acting.
Chris’ first job in acting was in a a production of The Royal Hunt of the Sun at the Chichester Festival Theatre.
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He was only meant to appear on Emmerdale for 12 episodes however after viewers fell in love with the role, the show extended his contract.
Fast-forward over thirty years and Chris has proved he really was a great fit for the role.
As a result of his work in the acting industry and charity, Chris was awarded the Order of the British Empire Medal in 2019.
The award is recognised by the Crown, and honours those who’ve done exceptional work in their fields.
Is Chris Chittell married?
Chris married his first wife Caroline Hunt in 1979, but they later divorced in 2005.
The pair share two children, named Rebecca and Ben Chittell.
Chris is now married to his co-star Lesley Dunlop, who is known for her role as Brenda Walker, who he wed on June 18 2016.
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Lesley and Chris started dating in 2008 shortly after she joined the soap, and their characters date briefly on Emmerdale too.
The happy couple then announced their engagement in 2015.
They married in an intimate ceremony in 2016, in the coastal village of Coverack in Cornwall, at St Peter’s Church.
The bride wore an off-white gown and veil, and the groom sported a beige three-piece suit.
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