Actress and model Lorraine Chase is best known for her role as Steph Stokes in long-running ITV soap, Emmerdale. A role in which she played from from 2002 to 2006, with a brief return in 2013.
Emmerdale's then-executive producer, Steve Frost, chose her to play the mother of Tricia Stokes due the actress' physical resemblance, Daily Star reports.
She played an ex-convict and featured in some of the show's most prominent controversial storylines to date including family bereavement, mental illness, murder, fraud and incest sexual abuse until November 2006 when her character was sent to jail for a life sentence.
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She later returned in 2013 to attend the funeral of on-screen father Alan Turner. Steph quickly became established as the village bully but she could also show a soft side when trying to get her wicked way. The ex-con's turbulent lifestyle became a must-see for viewers across the nation.
Before leaving the village, Steph was arrested after she attempted to kill her father and herself by driving her car off a cliff. Here's what actress Lorraine Chase did after leaving Steph Stokes behind.
Reality TV
Following her time on the show, Lorraine starred in a number of reality TV shows. In 2011 the actress became a contestant on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and came fourth place in the popular series.
Speaking to Digital Spy after leaving the jungle, she said: "I should've done my homework before I went into the show because I had no idea how tough it was going to be."
The star also appeared on Channel 5 show Celebrity Carry on Barging in 2017 and took part in Celebs on the Farm in 2018.
Health battle
In 2013, Lorraine had a cancerous growth removed from her face. Between the bridge of her nose and her left eye, a surgeon cut out the skin carcinoma which had been slowly growing unexpectedly for four years.
Sharing her experience, Lorraine admitted that she was very worried about her ordeal but was glad that it was finally gone.
She explained: "I now call myself 'Scarface' but really you can hardly see it. There was a big hole where the cancer was cut out but the ophthalmic surgeon who stitched me up did it sympathetically.
"I was really worried how I might look after the operation, but apart from a little ridge across my nose, I think it’s livened up that eye. The best part is the cancer is gone. I’m not ready to slip from the mortal coil just yet." Twelve years prior Lorraine was also treated for cervical cancer.
Husband's death
Lorraine's husband John Knight sadly passed away in 1996 after losing his battle with cancer. Sharing her thoughts on his passing in 2013, Lorraine admitted that she has never gotten over his death.
She told Mail Online: "I’d watch him go through chemotherapy, which was debilitating. Just when he was starting to feel better again, they’d tell him it was time for the next round of chemo.
"He never once complained and the only time I saw him cry was when he was told stem cell replacement therapy had failed.
"He must have known there was little hope, but he never gave up and agreed to every medical intervention."
The star said her husband died at home and "I don’t think I’ve ever really got over it."
