Leah Bracknell’s husband has described his “intense” heartbreak as he paid an emotional tribute to the late Emmerdale star online.
The actor, who was best known as Zoe Tate on the ITV soap, died in September at the age of 55, three years after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
After news of Leah’s death was made public last week, Jez Hughes has now broken his silence with a moving message on Facebook, in which he called his wife “the bravest person I’ve ever met”.
He wrote: “Thank you everyone for all your kind words, prayers and love.
“They mean the world to me at this time and I apologise that I can’t respond individually as I haven’t the words in me right now.
“My darling wife, best friend and soul mate flies free in spirit.
“I have been the luckiest man in the world to spend time walking, dancing, laughing, praying, dreaming, singing, drumming, talking, travelling, crying, planning, hoping, loving, going wild, exploring, rebelling, forgiving, celebrating, playing, sharing secrets at dawn, opening hearts, minds and soul – alongside a woman of such depth, power, humour, humility, honour, intelligence and love - it is impossible to do justice to with the transient, flimsy power of words.”
Leah revealed that she had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 2016, aged 52.
Jez said the late actor, who was born Alison Bracknell, had “faced the last three years of cancer with dignity, grace and light”.
“She shone bright in this world with fire in her heart and water in her soul,” he wrote.
“The great mystery of existence always visible through her beautiful eyes.
“She inspired and changed the lives of so many, loved ones and strangers alike.
“Every day I learn of more people who she helped which brings the warmth of pride and gratitude to have known her into my heart.
“She taught me more than I’m able to comprehend and we shared more than I dreamt was possible in this life. More than either of us thought was possible.”
He continued: “My heart is truly broken and the pain is intense as I wander aimlessly, waiting to awake from this dream, from hour to hour, day to day.
“My only prayer is that through the burning down of everything that I hold sacred and precious, through this raw, primal, timeless wound, something else will arise and I am able to embody just a little of Ali’s grace, bravery, tenacity, and lightness, in order to serve her legacy well in the world.”
Leah’s diagnosis came to light when Jez launched a Go Fund Me page to raise money for her to undergo treatment overseas, due to a lack of options available on the NHS.
More than 2,500 fans joined together to raise £50,000 to help pay for cutting-edge treatment for her in Germany.
In August, she told of how her cancer treatment had stopped working.
Leah, who starred on Emmerdale for 16 years until 2005, was remembered with great fondness by her former co-stars on Twitter after news of her death broke last week.
Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, was among the first to share her condolences, praising Leah as “a true angel to work with”.
Claire King, who plays Zoe’s former step-mother Kim Tate, called her “gorgeous, beautiful, talented and lovely”.