This Sunday, Emmerdale enthusiasts will be cheering on Tony Audenshaw as he embarks on the London Marathon in memory of his late wife Ruth, who tragically died following a battle with pancreatic cancer in 2017.

Tony, 60, has become a familiar face in the Emmerdale community, portraying Bob Hope since the year 2000, a role through which he’s encountered numerous dramatic storylines over the years.

Yet, many fans might be surprised to learn that four years prior to becoming the show’s iconic Bob, Tony had already graced the Emmerdale landscape, taking on the part of Acky in 1996 – a security guard working for Frank Tate and featured in The Woolpack scenes.

Just a short while later, in 2000, Tony returned, this time stepping into the shoes of the now-celebrated character Bob, a role he has cherished and made his own from the debut moment.

The actor recently discussed his impressive 25-year tenure on Emmerdale earlier this year on Lorraine, marking a quarter of a century clocked on the iconic ITV soap, reports Leicestershire Live.

Amidst reflection, Tony opened up about his journey through grief following the passing of Ruth, expressing profound gratitude towards his co-stars and the Emmerdale team. He said: “The makeup department were fantastic.”

He continued his poignant reflection, saying: “I remember coming down eight years ago shortly after Ruth had died and then going back into work.

“I had a storyline, an affair with Laurel. Charlotte [Bellamy, who plays Laurel] is fantastic, but that whole period is a bit of a blur to me.”

Highlighting the solace found within his professional environment, Tony concluded: “But going into work, having that structure of going into work and people who care for each other is a wonderful thing.”

The actor shared: “I’m hoping for a bit of lightness” regarding his upcoming storylines on the soap, while also noting that recent episodes of Emmerdale have “been brilliant”.

He went on to say: “I don’t get the scripts I’m not in, so I can watch it as a viewer.

“I didn’t have a clue what was going to happen” he admitted, praising the limo crash scenes that aired earlier this year.Currently, Tony is preparing for the London Marathon taking place this Sunday. He’s no stranger to the event, having participated over 10 times before.

This time, he’s running in honour of his late wife and to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer research.