Hearts across the nation were left broken in 2011, when Emmerdale killed off Aaron Dingle’s boyfriend Jackson Walsh after a heartbreaking storyline.
Jackson was central to Aaron’s coming out in the village, but was later injured in a train accident which saw him become quadriplegic, eventually begging Aaron and his mum to help him end his life.
The pair first got together after meeting in a gay bar when Aaron was still coming to terms with his sexuality, starting with Aaron punching him and finally ending with the pair in a committed relationship.
But where is actor Marc Silcock now, after his final soap appearance more than a decade ago?
From quitting the showbiz industry to his new life as an estate agent, Daily Star has all the deets.
Secret Emmerdale role
Even the most avid ITV soap fan might not know that Jackson wasn’t Marc’s first role on Emmerdale.
He actually first appeared as Josh Hope in 2001 and 2006, Bob’s son by his second marriage to Barbara.
Josh was first seen when Bob headed round to meet him and his sister Carly, later returning aged 18 for his dad’s marriage to Viv – but only because Bob pretended to be losing his sight in an attempt to be reunited with all his kids.
The truth came out at the wedding and left things fractured between father and son, though they finally managed to make up and Josh stayed for the wedding ceremony.
Rival soap stints
Emmerdale isn’t Marc’s only claim to fame – he also had a regular role as Eli in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 2008 until 2009.
His training at City College, Manchester left Marc with a Diploma in Performing Arts which served him well through the years, landing roles as Anthony Sugden in Waterloo Road and Fergal Maguire in Shameless.
After leaving Emmerdale, he appeared as a regular in TV mini-series Privates, playing Lance Corporal Jimmy Hobbs, and appeared in both Casualty and Doctors, with his last on-screen role being in 2016.
Quitting acting
Despite his on-screen successes, Marc made the decision to step away from TV fame and become an estate agent with the Kamani Property Group, based mainly in Manchester, in 2017.
And he isn’t the only one linked to the company – run by entrepreneur Adam Kamani, who also founded fashion brands Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing.
His former co-star Adam Thomas – who played Adam Barton in Emmerdale – also works for the company, tasked with sourcing potential acquisitions and assisting with managing the residential and commercial sides of the business.
His company profile explains Adam “regularly meets with contractors, potential tenant and suppliers” – and that he also appears in promotional videos.
Speaking about his role, Adam told fans on social media in 2018: “I am working in the property industry in between jobs because as a jobbing actor you can be out of work, that’s just the nature of the business but I haven’t nor will I ever turn my back on acting.
“But I have a family to support and will carry on doing so whether it be acting or otherwise.”
Marc, however, moved over to rival company Capital&Centric in 2021, where he works as a Development Manager – and he has also been linked to Christie & Co in the past.
Speaking to The Sun of leaving Emmerdale, Marc said in 2011: “Emmerdale really was the best job of my life. You do so much in a short period of time that your improvement is really dramatic.
“I held onto the role for as long as possible, but my exit storyline […] was so good it was worth leaving for.”
The star added: “I honestly couldn't rule out going back to soap in the future. But it would have to work for me. I wouldn't do it for the sake of it.”
Spending days in wheelchair
During his time on the soap, Marc explained that he found it “hard” to be lying in a bed for long filming days, unable to move, as he played quadriplegic character Jackson.
And to prepare, he admitted he spent the “whole day” in a wheelchair.
Opening up to press at the time, he explained: “I do spend the whole day in the wheelchair, including lunch time. It's helping me to settle in to being in one."
He added: “At first, it was hard lying in a bed for so long, not being able to move.
"I'd get cramps or the odd twitch. It was very uncomfortable because for the first five weeks of filming, I was in bed for 14 hours a day in a halo neck brace.
"I can try to understand but I have no idea what it's like not to be able to move, to never walk again.”
Real relationship and hate mail
During his stint on the show, Marc and his co-star Danny Miller – who played Aaron until quitting last year – received abuse from a fan who was livid they are both straight in real life.
A mystery viewer sent a string of anonymous threats to Danny over his relationship with Roz Fielding star Kirsty-Leigh Porter, who he was dating at the time.
Danny is now engaged to girlfriend Steph Jones, and they share son Albert together.
Marc also had a girlfriend at the time, Amy Collings, with whom he attended the 2012 British Soap Awards.
But the threatening letters – which were allegedly sent to both Danny and Marc – left the pair shaken, with Emmerdale bosses threatening to call the police at the time.
A source told Daily Star in 2010: “It seems that this person doesn’t like the fact that both of these lads are straight.”
Danny Miller added on Twitter: “Sad to read hate mail sent by fans that don’t want me to have a [girlfriend]. Sorry!”
Emmerdale airs weekdays from 7:30pm on ITV.
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