Emmerdale favourites Eric Pollard and Brenda Walker have had a turbulent relationship this year but their real-life romance continues to blossom

TV favourites Chris Chittell and Lesley Dunlop, best known for their roles as Eric Pollard and Brenda Walker on the long-running British soap Emmerdale, are facing an exciting storyline this Christmas.

On-screen, their characters are preparing for a heartwarming festive wedding after Eric surprised Brenda with an engagement ring and plans for a yuletide ceremony.

However, their happiness could face challenges as other dramatic events unfold in the village, with secrets and tensions threatening to overshadow their big day.

Fans are eager to see how the couple will navigate the mix of romance and drama that Emmerdale is known for during the holiday season. But away from the show, actors Chris and Lesley are in a loving marriage despite their on-screen highs and lows.

Wedding

Off-screen, Chris and Lesley have been happily married since June 18, 2016. Their romance blossomed on the set of Emmerdale, leading to their engagement in 2015 and marriage the following year.

Their wedding was a private affair, attended by close family and friends. Both have children from previous relationships.

Chris was previously married to Caroline Hunt for 26 years before their split in 2005, while Lesley has two daughters from a previous relationship.

Blossoming romance

In an interview four years prior to their wedding, Chris spoke about how his relationship with Lesley developed.

He told the Daily Record: ‘It was weird. Somehow, we’d never met before, and we just kept bumping into each other at work.

“I can’t even remember if I asked her for a date or she asked me but she is wonderful and we’re very happy.

“For some people, working together would be a nightmare but we love it. We make a point of not talking about Emmerdale when we’re at home, though – that would be just too sad, wouldn’t it?

“And we do get strange looks when we’re out sometimes. You can see people getting confused.”

On-screen relationship woes

Throughout 2024, Emmerdale characters Eric and Brenda have faced a series of significant challenges that have tested their relationship.

Early in the year, Eric received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease which began to affect his daily life. Determined to maintain normalcy, he initially concealed the severity of his symptoms from Brenda, leading to misunderstandings and emotional distance between them.

Later on, in an attempt to secure their financial future, Eric secretly invested their joint savings into a cryptocurrency scheme, hoping for substantial returns. But unfortunately, the investment turned out to be a scam, resulting in the loss of their life savings. This financial blow led to feelings of betrayal as Eric had used Brenda’s personal funds without her consent.

Eric later proposed to Brenda, planning a surprise Christmas wedding. However, Brenda began to question the sincerity of the proposal, suspecting Eric’s medication might influence it or to distract her from their financial woes. Her doubts were further fueled when she discovered discrepancies in their bank accounts.

Their relationship has also reached breaking point this year, resulting in a temporary separation as they each sought to reassess their future together.

As the year concludes, both characters are currently on a path of reflection and potential reconciliation, acknowledging the need for honesty and mutual support.

Emmerdale airs Mondays-Fridays at 7:30PM on ITV1.