Emmerdale actor who played Jack Sugden dies aged 63

Clive Hornby - who played farmer Jack Sugden in the soap Emmerdale - has died aged 63. 

Hornby was the longest-serving cast member in Emmerdale's history, a fixture in the programme for 28 years.

His last scenes were broadcast in February. Hornby had been determined to beat a mystery illness and return to work but died on Thursday.

Before his death, he requested that details relating to his health were not published.

His character was known for his flat cap and wax jacket. In the ITV1 soap, originally known as Emmerdale Farm, Hornby still wore the cap he was given when he joined in 1980.

He was initially offered a three-month contract as farmer Jack Sugden.

The character was seen returning to the village after previously being played by Andrew Burt.

Devoted family man and farmer Sugden married three times and had five children.

Emmerdale series producer Anita Turner said: "This is a devastating loss and we are all deeply saddened.

'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.

'Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.'

Jack was the son of Jacob and Annie Sugden, whose family owned Emmerdale Farm since early in the show.

Jack Sugden's first wife Pat was killed in a car crash in 1986 - the first of many tragedies for the character. In real life, Hornby went on to marry Helen Weir, who played Pat. They divorced eight years ago and have a son, Tom.

His character went on to have brief affairs with married women before tying the knot with mobile librarian Sarah Connolly (Madeleine Howard) in 1994.

His second wife died in a barn fire, and Sugden was arrested  for her murder before being released when the real culprit was discovered.

Sugden later married pub landlady Diane (Elizabeth Estensen), who was nearly killed in a house collapse in 2006.

Familiar face: Clive, filming the show in 1979, was the longest-serving cast member in Emmerdale's history