Emmerdale fans may be surprised to learn the actor who plays Rodney Blackstock in Emmerdale has a very interesting life away from the ITV soap.
Rodney is one of the most iconic characters in Emmerdale, with Patrick Mower, 84, having played the part for over two decades.
Patrick was born in Oxford and trained as an engineering draughtsman at the Cowley plant of Pressed Steel Company in his younger years. He later went on to graduate from the acclaimed acting school RADA.
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During his lengthy career, he's starred in several television shows and films. But he is perhaps best known for Rodney Blackstock, the estranged father of Bernice Blackstock.
After joining in 2000, Rodney has become a real fan favourite in Emmerdale.
How old is the actor that plays Rodney in Emmerdale?
Many can’t believe Patrick Mower is 84 given his youthful appearance. Even more so when you consider the actor is actually older than he thought, reports LeedsLive.
In his 2007 autobiography, Patrick said he believed for years that his year of birth was 1940, but later he discovered that his birth was not registered and he was born on September 12 in 1938.
Film career
While Patrick Mower has appeared in thousands of Emmerdale episodes he also had a lengthy acting career before he joined the ITV soap.
You might recognise him from his role as a military man in the 1976 films Carry On England and Catch Me a Spy.
Elsewhere on the small screen, Patrick has had parts in Minder, Marco Polo and Space: 1999 amongst other shows. He actually had a small role in the legendary ChuckleVision alongside Rotherham icons the Chuckle Brothers.
Carol Vorderman is a superfan
Watching Emmerdale ahead of Patrick’s 83rd birthday, the Loose Women and Countdown star couldn’t believe the actor’s age.
On Twitter, Carol wrote: "So I'm waiting for the footie and saw Patrick Mower on @emmerdale. (I've) googled his age." Many of Carol's fans shared her disbelief and were complimentary of the Emmerdale star.
Patrick Mower's wife of 27 years
Rodney has been described as a "lothario" in Emmerdale but off-screen he has been happily married for almost 30 years.
He married Anya Pope in 1996 and the pair have been together ever since. They have one son together and Patrick also has two older children from a previous marriage.
It is thought the couple live in Louth, Lincolnshire, with Patrick commuting the 44 miles to Leeds to film for the ITV soap.
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