Emmerdale Jack Sugden star Clive Hornby’s gruesome on set injury which caused collapsed lung
During his time playing Jack Sugden on Emmerdale, Clive Hornby suffered a nasty injury while pushing a tractor on set which led to him spending eight days in hospital
Emmerdale star Clive Hornby spent eight days in hospital following a nasty injury which occurred during filming.
The actor was best known for playing the role of Jack Sugden for 28 years on the ITV soap. Hornby portrayed Jack from 1980 until his death in 2008, taking over from Andrew Burt who played the character from 1972 until 1976.
He suffered a number of health battles during his career, including one which happened on set. In 1997, Hornby was filming a scene which included Jack pushing a tractor when things went awry.
He was rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung and spent eight days recovering. Speaking of the incident, he said: “It’s all right now but it made me realise that I never wanted to spend eight days again in a hospital.
“I stopped smoking after that. Not cigarettes, cigars. Stupid to smoke cigars, I know, but you could say it was a turning point in my life.” Hornby was 63 when he died from cancer in 2008.
He filmed his final scenes in January that year before passing away in July. He had previously denied rumours about his ill health and insisted he had no interest in leaving the soap.
Anita Turner, who was Emmerdale’s series producer at the time, said of Clive’s death: “Clive will be greatly missed by everyone who has worked with him on Emmerdale during the past 28 years. He was a hugely popular and well-respected member of cast and a terrific actor.”
In 2009, exactly 15 years ago today (February 5), Jack was killed off as it was announced the character had died from a heart attack. A funeral was hosted for him in the Emmerdale graveyard with a ghostly image of Jack present to say one final goodbye to wife Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen).
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Jack was married three times during his life, but one romance spilled off-screen. Hornby ended up marrying Helen Weir, who played his on-screen wife Pat Sugden.
The couple tied the knot in 1986 and went on to welcome a son named Thomas. Their marriage lasted nearly 15 years before the duo sadly divorced in 2000.
