Heartbeat, the iconic Sunday evening show that first graced our screens over 30 years ago, is fondly remembered by many.
One character who stands out is PC Phil Bellamy, portrayed by Mark Jordon, who was a fan favourite until his departure from the ITV role in 2007. His popularity even led to a documentary titled Heartbeat – Farewell Phil airing on Christmas Day.
In the series, his character was married to another beloved character, Gina. It’s been nearly two decades since we bid farewell to PC Bellamy, but Jordon has accomplished much since then.
Shortly after leaving Heartbeat, he made his directorial debut with the short film To The Sea Again, which was showcased at numerous festivals, and even made it to the finals of the Angel Film Festival London and Moondance International Film Festival in Hollywood.
More recently, in 2014, Jordon joined the cast of Emmerdale in the temporary role of Daz Spencer, before returning to the part as a regular cast member in August 2017. In addition to his role as Dan Spencer in Emmerdale, Jordon has appeared in other notable shows, including a guest role as Connor Colman in BBC’s Holby City and as Ray Wood in ITV’s The Long Shadow.
During his time on Emmerdale, Jordon met his partner, Laura Norton, who plays Kerry Wyatt, and they have two children together. Jordon was previously married to Happy Valley and Benidorm actress Siobhan Finneran, with whom he also has two children, but they divorced in 2014.
Today, Jordon is active on Instagram, often sharing updates about his family life, including his experiences raising children with Usher syndrome – a rare genetic disorder that affects hearing and vision.
There is currently no cure for the condition, which is present from birth and can vary in severity, with symptoms typically emerging during adolescence.
In an interview with the Express, Jordon discussed the challenges of raising children with Usher syndrome, stating: “We can expect their sight loss to start within their adolescence, so that is our yardstick for what we need to achieve before then.
“It’s given us the drive to go, ‘We’ve got a decade, let’s get on with it.’ We have to have that hope.
“I’m preparing myself for what happens next, but 100% yes we do hope – because otherwise we couldn’t get up and do it.”
Now, Jordon and Norton dedicate their lives to trying to help find a cure for Usher syndrome. They are patrons of the charity Cure Usher, and tirelessly fundraise to try and find a cure following their children’s diagnosis.