Emmerdale's Joe-Warren Plant is set for a significant storyline as his character, Jacob Gallagher, becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding April Windsor's disappearance, set to air on Thursday, January 2.
Jacob finds himself in the midst of chaos during his first shift in the A&E department when Dr Todd receives news of an incoming stab victim. The drama escalates when Jacob discovers that the purse of the injured party belongs to April, who has been missing since Christmas Day.
Recognising the victim, Jacob is now in a difficult position, wrestling with whether to reveal his connection to Marlon, April's father in the series. As Jacob steps into the spotlight and his on-screen relationships develop, it brings to mind Joe's personal heartbreak this year following his split from his long-term girlfriend.
With Joe once again at the centre of attention, we take a look at his life off-screen.
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What many Emmerdale fans may not know is that Joe juggled two jobs while acting on the ITV soap. Away from the small screen, he was seen serving drinks at his local village pub, reports Leeds Live.
Joe rose to fame as Jacob on the soap at the tender age of eight. Despite earning money from a young age, he sought additional income and took on a second job.
The 22-year-old star was spotted by patrons. An observer reported to The Sun: "Joe-Warren is a friendly lad he only joined recently so he's just getting started. It's not the case at all that he has left Emmerdale, he's still very much on set. But he knows via friends the owner of the bar and offered to help out."
In 2020, Joe took a hiatus from the show to join Dancing on Ice with professional skater Vanessa Bauer. Their chemistry on ice was palpable.
Despite being strong contenders with their mesmerising performances and bold routines, they had to withdraw early due to both contracting Covid-19, which at the time meant automatic elimination from the contest.
Additionally, two years prior, he paused his soap role for a stint on Ninja Warrior UK.
In February 2022, Joe confirmed he was in a relationship with Anna Norton and the couple were clearly enamoured, marking their one-year anniversary with a social media post.
The Daily Star reported they took the significant step of buying a house together, embodying the perfect romantic tale, but recent reports confirm a breakup just months later.
An insider has spilled the beans to The Sun, revealing that a couple has called it quits after their relationship took a nosedive post an American getaway earlier this year. A source confided to the tabloid that the breakup was far from smooth sailing.
They divulged: "Joe and Anna are over, it's very sad but they are still very young. It hasn't been the amicable split they were hoping for and they aren't speaking now at all."
Meanwhile, Joe faced a love split after competing on Dancing On Ice. Joe, who joined the ice dancing spectacle in 2022, was previously in a seemingly blissful relationship with model Nicole Hadlow.
But as the competition heated up, so did whispers of concern from Nicole about the extensive hours Joe dedicated to perfecting his routines with skating partner Vanessa Bauer.
Their chemistry on the ice was undeniable, setting them apart from the rest of the contestants.
An insider had told The Sun during the competition: "He's been spending hours on the ice with Vanessa and the trainers and it has been tough on them. Joe is mad for Nicole and obviously wants to make this work but it has been tough."
Despite the swirling rumours, Nicole and Joe presented a united front, sharing an adorable photo in matching outfits to mark Joe's 18th birthday, a testament to their relationship's strength amidst the storm.
Nicole, it seems, has called time on her romance with Joe, leading him to move back in with his mother as heartbreak takes its toll. The split was further signalled by both parties unfollowing each other on social media, indicating a digital divide to match the emotional one.
A confidant revealed to a publication that Nicole felt overlooked in the relationship, and Joe's efforts to reassure her were insufficient. The source disclosed: "Nicole felt sidelined and he's done little to put her mind at ease."
Emmerdale is on ITV1 and ITVX
