ITV/Shutterstock Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 8 May 2026, 19:05 By Carena Crawford 8 May 2026, 19:05 Inside the life of Joe-Warren Plant in Emmerdale: Co-star romance rumours, age-gap relationship and secret 'normal' job The Jacob Sugden actor is currently embroiled in a big storyline on-screen Features Jacob Sugden Joe-Warren Plant Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 8 May 2026, 19:05 By Carena Crawford 8 May 2026, 19:05 Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant has had some big storylines in his time playing Jacob Sugden and currently things are not going well for him at all. Despite being happily loved-up with wife Sarah and their new baby, his work boss Dr Todd has been bullying him and making his life a misery. What he doesn’t know is that she also knows baby Leyla isn’t actually their baby and she’s threatened to make things even more hellish for him with her secret. Joe-Warren’s life off-screen thankfully seems a bit more settled, though he’s certainly had his fair share of headlines in the past. So who is he dating? What happened with those co-star romance rumours? And what is his side hustle away from the soap? Things haven’t been easy for Jacob in Emmerdale lately (Credit: ITV) Joe-Warren Plant in an age-gap romance One of Jacob’s biggest storylines to date was when he was groomed and abused by his teacher – and dad’s girlfriend – Maya Stepney. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers At that time Joe was 17 in real life and had happily been dating his girlfriend, Nicole Hadlow, for about 18 months – and she was 22. The pair often posted loved-up snaps together on Instagram – including plenty of them enjoying holidays in destinations such as Mexico and Ibiza. However things hit the rocks in 2021 when Joe signed up to take part in Dancing On Ice with reports suggesting the demanding schedule caused them to separate.Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your Emmerdale newsIt's important to us that you never miss our articles when searching for stories! We have all the latest TV news & schedules to share with our community of loyal readers. Click here and tick TVGuide.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search. Joe spoke about the split at the time to The Sun: “Dancing on Ice has come at a good time for me physically and mentally,” he explained. “Relationships are hard to kind of deal with. It has helped to take my mind off of it slightly, having to focus and train all day every day. Even when you’re not training and you’re at home you’ve got to take the recovery aspect into terms. “It’s helped taking my mind off it, but things are still tough to be fair.” Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer were partnered together on Dancing On Ice in 2021 (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant and co-star romance rumours It was around this time that rumours of a romance with his co-star surfaced. Joe had been partnered with pro skater Vanessa Bauer and the chemistry between them led to much speculation the Dancing on Ice curse had hit and that had caused Joe’s split with Nicole. Speaking the Mail Online at the time, Joe addressed the romance rumours surrounding him and Vanessa. He said: “With Dancing On Ice, it is about telling a story, to be engaged with the audience and the judges. So you have to have a certain level of chemistry between you and your partner. “Everybody has seen that we’re getting on so well and automatically assumed that something is going on but there isn’t and we’re just dedicated to the show and trying to do as best as we possibly can.” Sadly Joe, who was one of the favourites to win the competition were forced to withdraw due to contracting COVID. At the time the Emmerdale actor wrote: “I am beyond heartbroken that our journey has been cut short. “For the past few months we have dedicated our entire lives to the show and I can’t even describe how I feel… “Dancing On Ice has been the most amazing experience. I have met so many incredible / kind people.” He then took a month out of the public eye to work on himself. Joe and Anna were together for two years (Credit: Can Nguyen/Shutterstock) New girlfriend It was 2022 when Joe went public with new girlfriend Anna Norton. A source told The Sun that Joe and Anna were “smitten” with each other. “Joe and Anna are totally smitten with one another and feel now is a good time to let the world know they’re an item,” said the insider. “They’ve been spending a lot of time together recently at charity football events and make each other really happy.” The couple reportedly bought a house together in Blackpool and even had a cat. However things hit the rocks after two years and they parted ways with the split reported to be ‘not amicable’. Looking cosy… (Credit: @joewarren_plant on Instagram Stories) Who is Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant dating now? The 24-year-old then went Instagram official with a new girlfriend in January 2025. On his Instagram story, Joe shared a picture showing him looking cosy with a girl. The brunette was tagged as Isabella – though her Instagram account is private. The Sun reported that Isabella is Joe’s new girlfriend. Although Joe rarely posts on social media, it looks as though they are still together, having shared plenty of sun-kissed holidays. Joe doesn’t just appear in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV) Joe’s side hustle On the Celebrity Side Hustles podcast last year, which is presented by former Emmerdale stars Roxy Shahidi and Matthew Wolfenden, Joe-Warren’s unusual side hustle was revealed Rather than spend his downtime relaxing, he works as a waiter… yes, really! Matthew Wolfenden added: “It’s true. He waits tables in a restaurant in Blackpool, he still does it now. I think with Joe, because he grew up on Emmerdale, you miss out on things like getting a bar job. So one day he just went, ‘oh, I’m gonna get a job in a restaurant’.” Matthew went on to explain: “He started off washing dishes. He’s kept himself grounded, got a normal job on a weekend and yeah, that’s just really admirable and beautiful. “He’s just such a gorgeous young man – he’s never got starry about it. I think if, if my kids go down that route and can be like Joe-Warren, then I’d be very proud.” Joe-Warrent Plant was just 10 when he joined Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Tragic loss of his mum Joe joined Emmerdale as Jacob in 2010 aged just eight. He credits his mum and dad, Warren and Steph, for taking a leap and letting him do it. Speaking to The Mirror in 2023, Joe-Warren revealed: “I can’t remember what it was like before. This is home for me. I owe everything to Mum and Dad.” Sadly, Joe’s mum died from liver complications aged 47 in November 2022. He is sure she would be proud of how far her son has come in Emmerdale. He said: “Mum was so supportive and such an amazing person. I miss her a lot.” Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 8 May 2026, 19:05 By Carena Crawford 8 May 2026, 19:05 Previous Story Next Story
