EastEnders’ Jill Halfpenny reveals ‘unbearable’ pain after partner died in gym

jill halfpenny

by Eden-Olivia Lord |
Updated on

The actress has opened up about her partner passing away two years ago

EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny - who played Kate Mitchell - has spoken out about the 'unbearable' pain she felt after her partner's sudden death in a gym.

In 2017 while Jill's partner, who has remained unnamed, went to the gym he suffered a heart attack and died.

Now, the 44-year-old actress has spoken out about the traumatic experience and how it reminded her of losing her dad during her childhood.

Check out: next week's EastEnders spoilers - Mel Owen blackmails Sharon Mitchell

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EastEnders spoilers week 39 2019

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eastenders spoilers sharon blackmails mel

After discovering Sharon and Keanu's secret, Mel contemplates what to do with the information. Desperate to get revenge on the Mitchell family she asks Lisa to help get Keanu's phone and ends up catching Sharon in a trap.

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Sharon is horrified when it dawns on her that Mel knows the truths and has evidence to prove it – she's found her paternity test results.

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Sharon begs Mel to keep her secret but instead she blackmails her and gives her an ultimatum – convince Louise to move back in with Lisa or she's revealing her baby daddy secret.

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Following Mel's threat, Sharon asks Keanu and Louise out for lunch but she's annoyed when Phil invites himself along. When Keanu realises Sharon has been acting odd he confronts her about what's going on.

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She lies to him and tells him she can't bear to live so close to him and Louise when she's also pregnant with his baby. A stunned Keanu decides it's best that he and Louise move back in with Lisa.

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Sharon is relieved that she's managed to do what Mel wanted but she's then left shaken when Mel tells her it's not over and she'll be in touch. As Mel continues to blackmail Sharon it leaves Lisa questioning what's going on between the pair however Mel refuses to tell her the truth.

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Sharon manages to get the upper hand but then Mel refuses to back down she gives Shaz a threat she can't ignore…Sharon is left fearing for the worse by Mel's behaviour and it's not long before she changes her demands again… Will Sharon be able to get out of this one?

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Meanwhile on the Square, Keegan celebrates his birthday. However there's tension between Mitch Baker and Gray Atkins when the former discovers his son-in-law bought Keegan a laptop.

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As the party continues Keegan and Louise clash when she makes a nasty comment about Tiff. It's not long before Louise has to leave.

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As the party dies down Tiffany manages to have a catch up with Keegan and opens up about what she's been acting odd recently.

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Gray tells Chantelle that he's going to see a therapist about his behaviour. When she accidentally cuts her hand, he insists they go to A&E. While they're there, a nurse spots Chantelle's bruises – will she seek help?

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Despite his horrific behaviour, Chantelle supports Gray before his therapy appointment and later on he promises he'll never hurt her again.

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Louise is furious when she sees that her brother is well and truly back in with the rest of the Mitchell family. Sick to death of Ben's attitude, Louise is quick to put him in his place and warns him to stay away from her.

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She's later confused by Ben's generous behaviour and later on Ben and Keanu discuss parenthood. The pair are interrupted by a man named Jason who has arrives to see through a job Phil has arranged.

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Ben is eager to impress so he tells Jason he's able to get him a fancy car for a good deal… Jean Slater struggles with Ben being around and it leaves him contemplating his actions.

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Ben asks Jay Brown to help him out for a job but Jay gets way more than he bargained for when he gets back to the Square with a swollen lip. Ben later meets with a friend Tubbs and asks him for help on his new money-making scheme.

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Both Ted and Patrick are nervous about meeting Sheree's mum Wanda but as they wait Denise Fox and Jack Branning join them in The Vic.

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Ted and Wanda's second date ends in a disaster and he asks her to leave. Wanda decides to give him a second chance and the pair have a heart to heart and discuss Joyce. Feeling touched, Ted kisses Wanda.

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Stuart Highway asks Ian Beale to help him prepare a meal for Rainie to celebrate their six-week anniversary but when he refuses – he asks Callum Highway to help out instead.

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Rainie is struggling with her withdrawal symptoms but after seeing the effort Stuart has gone to in the parlour, she's left feeling touched.

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Thing takes a turn for the worse when Ian crosses a line and it results in Rainie storming over to Sonia Fowler's and demanding drugs.An out of control Rainie attacks Sonia but luckily Stuart arrives just in time. As he takes his girlfriend home and tries to get through to her she blames him for everything that's happening.

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Stuart goes to drastic lengths to help Rainie stay clean but following an incident at the funeral parlour, Callum insists Stuart think of another idea. Stuart explains the reason behind his latest actions and Callum is left stunned when his brother confesses he's a recovering addict.

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Later, Stuart returns to check up on Rainie and she ends up crumbling in his arms. Callum reveals his concerns about Rainie but he's later distracted when Whitney Dean returns.

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Upon her return the pair have a heart to heart but Callum is taken a back when she drops a huge bombshell on him… struggling with the news, Callum gets drunk in The Vic.

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Jay steps in to help Callum but it's not long before he's storming over to the Mitchell house and blaming Ben for everything that has happened…

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While Rainie tries her best to convince Stuart that she's full recovered, Whit speaks to Tiffany about her time away on holiday.

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Elsewhere Iqra Habiba has had enough; first Gray unintentionally offends her which leaves her questioning her job at the restaurant and then she's left humiliated by Ian.

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Appearing on The Two Shot Podcast, she explained: "Something happened a couple of years ago - I experienced something I've never ever spoken about.

"In January 2017 my partner, in very similar circumstances to my dad, went to the gym, had a heart attack and died."

She went on to detail how her partner's death took her back to losing her dad at the age of four; he went to play football and had a heart attack before passing away.

jill halfpenny
©Getty Images

"What happened was that it brought all of my grief from my dad as well; it was like dealing with a double loss - a loss I'd never dealt with."

She bravely went on to say: "Oh my god, it's unbearable. I cannot cope with these feelings.

"I just want cessation: the feeling to stop."

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Coronation Street fans will remember Jill as Rebecca Hopkins the nurse who had an affair with Martin Platt and left him heartbroken.

She then appeared on EastEnders as Kate Mitchell who was an undercover police officer trying to get Phil to confess to killing Lisa Fowler. Kate fell in love with Phil and the pair got married however she later divorced him.

She then supported Little Mo after she was raped by Graham Foster and left the Square after she's offered a job in the police force.

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