Emmerdale's Liam Fox on bittersweet twist as he quits soap in arrest drama
Emmerdale actor Liam Fox is hopeful his dramatic departure from the soap will prevent a real family’s lives from being ruined.
In tonight’s episode his character Dan Spencer was sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter, ending his 12-year run on the ITV drama. The shock jail sentence was handed to Dan after he punched Lloyd, who had been online-stalking his daughter Amelia. The blow caused such serious injuries that Lloyd later died.
Fans reeled and Liam says: “Millions watch Emmerdale and I hope if it makes one person watching stop and change their mind about how one punch can lead to catastrophic results, then this story is worth it for that alone. I know the sentence will come as a shock to fans but it’s important to get it right, especially as there are campaigns ongoing for people who commit manslaughter to get a longer sentence.
“If someone killed my child or wife then I would want them to pay for it too. I’ve loved playing Dan because he is a likeable character. He wants to do the right thing but this story is one where he’s done everything against what Dan stands for.” He pauses, then adds: “Whilst this story is bittersweet as it means I am leaving the soap, I have also had a brilliant time filming and I have even lost a stone in the process.”
Dan in custodyExplaining he decided to embark on a health kick to be fit enough to film the demanding scenes, 53-year-old Liam adds: “I had actually got to a point where I had been starting to think I needed a change to perhaps leave Emmerdale but I was struggling to have the bottle to make it. And so, when the producers first told me about what was going to happen to Dan, my immediate reaction was ‘this is brilliant’.
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“I knew it would mean I would be working flat out so I wanted to put everything into it. I’ve been a lot healthier. I would love to lose a couple more stone now I have seen how much more energy I’ve got!” Liam had an emotional last day on set with co-stars including Daisy Campbell, who plays Amelia.
But he reveals his wife, JoJo, is even more upset about Dan leaving. “She hates goodbyes,” he explains. “She finds it more emotional saying goodbye to Dan than I do. That said, I did cry on my last day. Our producer, Kate, made a speech and I found myself crying because she said such lovely things. I’ve made so many brilliant mates over the years.”
Dan and Lloyd row in the soapAs he reflects on Dan’s storylines – marriages to Chas Dingle and Kerry Wyatt as well as raising Amelia as his own daughter after discovering he was, in fact, her uncle – Liam says his explosive exit looks like the most memorable. But, asked to pick out others, he says he loved being part of Emmerdale’s live episode to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2012 as well as any scene involving Tony Audenshaw, who plays Bob Hope.
“My only regret is I didn’t have more scenes with Tony,” Liam adds. “He is such a great actor." Away from the TV cameras, Liam has a grown-up son, Ben, 23, and stepdaughter, Gemma, 26, with his first wife, ex-Hollyoaks actress Nicole Barber-Lane. Has the punch plot made him remind his own son to make sure he doesn’t let things get out of hand?
“Luckily my lad is a softie,” he reveals. “Even if I said something, he would tell me not to be stupid. He is right. He has seen people get into trouble and he always takes them away from it.” Liam has talked openly in the past about how his own life away from Emmerdale has almost been like a soap.
Confrontation turns uglyNow he says he is looking forward to the new chapter that beckons, with the ultimate plan to be a foster father. He says: “I have been through a divorce and got remarried whilst I have been in Emmerdale. Loads has gone on. I am 53 now and I was in my early 40s when I joined.
“I’ve got more confidence in myself now and I don’t feel like I need to please people. As long as my family and mates are happy, then I am happy. I have talked before about fostering children and that is something I would definitely love to do when I am older.”
He has been happily married to Joanna “JoJo” Hudson for three years. They first dated as students at the University of Salford, but split. Liam went on to marry Nicole in 1999. They divorced in 2015 and a few years later, Liam met up with JoJo again and the romance rekindled. They tied the knot in Cheshire in 2020.
Lloyd gets hurtHe says they plan to go on holiday together before he takes on some new projects that include a potential new gig presenting a radio programme and a pantomime role at Christmas. “It feels nice to have a break and feel the fear again when the bank balance disappears,” Liam confides. “I am looking forward to doing some new things.”
He says of his upcoming role in Merseyside: “It will be fun to play Abanazar in Aladdin in St Helens. I’ve not done a panto since I was 17 and that was an amateur one in Cheadle where I fell into the audience by mistake – I need to make sure that doesn’t happen again!
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“JoJo and my children are always really supportive. Ben was only six when his mum got a part in Hollyoaks and so he has had both his parents in different soaps ever since. He is not impressed in the slightest about any of it! He is like ‘oh OK Dad, you are going to do something else, great!”
Dan on GMB this week (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Liam with wife JoJoTwo years ago, Liam talked poignantly about his dad’s secret 40-year booze battle, which eventually killed him in February 2021. He would love to work with a relevant charity, saying: “Mental health is something I have always been interested in. I have been quite lucky as I don’t have any issues, but because of my dad, I would like to get involved with a charity. I am glad I talked about Dad and it’s good to continue to talk about the dangers of alcohol.”
As for whether he would consider returning to Emmerdale once Dan has served his time, Liam says: “I would never say ‘I am not going there again’ because it’s such a great place to work with great people there. It might be quite interesting if Dan does come back in a few years to see how he is changed. But for now, it is important for Dan to serve time for what he has done.”
* Emmerdale runs every weekday on ITV1 at 7.30pm.
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