Jill Halfpenny stars in Channel 5’s new thriller Number One Fan and the actress has faced real-life heartbreak
Jill Halfpenny is a household name
Jill Halfpenny has opened up about her personal life away from the cameras.
Actress Jill Halfpenny, star of the gripping new Channel 5 thriller Number One Fan, has shared insights into her personal journey alongside details of her latest role.
The chilling drama, which airs this week, follows beloved daytime TV presenter Lucy Logan (portrayed by Jill Halfpenny), whose seemingly idyllic existence is shattered when she encounters Donna (Sally Lindsay), a dangerously obsessed fan.
Speaking about the Spanish-filmed series, the 50 year old actress explained: “I think people will enjoy Number One Fan because it is set in a world that we all know and that we all maybe have a love/hate relationship with.
“Some people don’t like daytime television, some people absolutely live for it. But it’s very familiar. And it’s not a world that gets delved into that often – people having hushed conversations in dressing-rooms.”
Beyond her on-screen career, Jill has led a remarkable life, and here’s what you should know about the talented star.
Jill Halfpenny as Lucy in Number One Fan
Who is Jill Halfpenny’s famous niece?
Hailing from Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, the actress was honoured as Freeman of the Borough of Gateshead in 2013 for her outstanding contributions to theatre, television and charitable causes.
Talent clearly runs in the family, as Jill is aunt to fellow actress Chelsea Halfpenny, 34. Chelsea has made her mark playing Amy Wyatt in Emmerdale and Alicia Munroe in BBC’s Casualty.
She’s also shone on stage, taking on the role of Jenna Hunterson in the 2022 touring production of Waitress. Chelsea is wed to James Baxter, who also starred in Emmerdale, and the couple share a daughter.
Chelsea Halfpenny is Jill Halfpenny’s niece
What happened to Jill Halfpenny’s partner, Matt Janes?
The actress has previously spoken candidly about the heartbreaking loss of her partner in 2017.
During a podcast appearance in 2019, she discussed her anguish after Matt’s unexpected passing from a heart attack while exercising at the gym.
She described how the tragedy echoed her own father’s death: “In January 2017, my partner, in very similar circumstances to my dad, he went to a Peloton class at the gym, and he had a heart attack and died.
“My grief at losing Matt, my partner, was so brutal and so shocking but then what happened was it brought out all of the grief from my dad as well. It was like dealing with a double loss – a loss I’d never actually dealt with.
“I just found myself thinking, ‘Oh my god, this is unbearable. What am I going to do? I cannot cope. I just want cessation, this feeling to stop.”
North East actor Craig Conway(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Who is Jill Halfpenny’s ex-husband?
Halfpenny tied the knot with actor Craig Conway in 2007, welcoming their son Harvey together.
The pair relocated from Northumberland to the capital to pursue their thriving acting work and bring up their child, though they separated in 2010.
By 2013, Conway, known for his roles in Vera and The Fades, revealed they’d maintained a strong friendship. He had previously opened up, saying: “We care for each other an awful lot but we were happier to be good parents – that’s why we made our decision.
“It was one of those things but we are good friends and good working colleagues. There’s been no negatives in this split – it’s working out great.
“We live 20 minutes apart in London and Harvey spends lots of time with both us. She’s got a new partner and I get on really well with him and I’ve started seeing someone too.
“The other week all of us went for a picnic in Hyde Park with Harvey and it was great. Harvey is just beautiful. He’s a very fun, intelligent, happy child and I’m sure he’s going to be involved in the arts in some way,” Chronicle Live previously reported.
Number One Fan airs on Channel 5 from 9pm on May 4