Emmerdale viewers have been left stunned after discovering that DI Roberts actress Isobel Middleton is married to a soap icon in real life.
Isobel made her debut on the ITV soap earlier this year, taking on the role of the new village detective. She arrived on the scene to investigate the disappearance of Anthony Fox (Nicholas Day).
As fans will remember, the abusive character was killed in January by his daughter Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly ) – with several other villagers now implicated in the cover-up of the murder, including Caleb (William Ash), Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) and Cain (Jeff Hordley).
DI Roberts ended up arresting Cain over Anthony Fox’s disappearance but later released him due to insufficient evidence. However, this week on the soap, the detective returned to the village – much to the surprise of Caleb.
In Monday’s episode (April 22), she appeared to inform Caleb and Ruby about a break-in at their depot, reports Leicestershire Live.
But it’s Isobel’s personal life that has recently got fans buzzing. Off-screen, she is married to soap legend Jane Hazlegrove – who portrays Bernie Winter on Coronation Street.
The couple tied the knot back in 2015 and have been together for over 28 years. In 2019, Jane appeared on ITV’s Lorraine where she discussed their relationship. She excitedly exclaimed, “She’s sensational, a really beautiful woman. I am very obsessed.”
Isobel’s face might be familiar to Emmerdale fans as she has portrayed multiple characters on the show. She first appeared as Dr Lane in 2014, took on the role of a barrister during Simon McManus’s 2018 trial, and most recently emerged as Jean Rawson in 2020.
Yet, Emmerdale isn’t Isobel’s sole stomping ground within the soap world. Flashback to 2002 and you would have seen her as Sadie Banks in EastEnders on the BBC.
Not just a soap star, Isobel has also dipped her toes into the cinematic waters with a role in 2009’s Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
Isobel even tiptoed around Jane’s home turf on Coronation Street in 2022. On the cobbled streets, she embodied feminist author Persephone Braxton, bringing a literary splash to Roy’s Rolls with her book launch.
And it turns out that fans were completely gobsmacked upon discovering Isobel’s off-screen marriage to Jane. In a Coronation Street Facebook fan group, where a photo of the duo was shared, someone penned, “As if Bernie from Coronation Street is married to the detective in Emmerdale!”.
Others quickly buzzed with reactions like “Wow I didn’t know that.” And a third person articulating their surprise with, “How sweet! A gorgeous couple.”