Emmerdale star reveals his unusual set-up with EastEnders legend girlfriend's ex-husband

Emmerdale's newest rogue, Oliver Farnworth, has revealed details about his relationship with girlfriend Samantha Womack's former husband.

The actor, who is currently stirring drama in the ITV soap, has found romance with EastEnders icon Samantha Womack, famed for her role as Ronnie Mitchell. Since debuting on the show this year, 41 year old Oliver has been causing quite the stir on screen.

Behind the scenes, however, he is enjoying life with 51 year old Samantha, embarking on their love story in 2019, one year after Samantha and her ex-husband Mark Womack decided to call it quits.

Samantha and Mark had a significant history, being together for nearly two decades and sharing two children, Lily, 19, and Benjamin, 23. Interestingly enough, Mark also has ties to Emmerdale, having portrayed the character of police officer Mark Malone.

Discussions with "good friend" Mark actually influenced Oliver's decision to join the soap. Opening up to The Mirror, Oliver shared: 'Mark is a good friend. I actually just spoke to him yesterday," reports Leeds Live.

"And when I got offered [the part in Emmerdale], Mark told me it was a great job. He was full of praise for the place," Oliver continued, citing Mark's enthusiastic endorsement of the work environment on set: "I remember [Mark] saying when he was filming, that it's such a gorgeous place to work it's really, really brilliant."

Oliver, currently relishing his time on Emmerdale, echoed the praises: "So when this came along, I was excited. And it is great. He said to me, 'I told you so and I said, 'You did'," recalling the friendly exchange with a smile.

Oliver and Samantha first connected during their time working on the 2019 theatre production The Girl on the Train. Their relationship flourished, and by August 2022, their bond deepened significantly when Samantha was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Oliver revealed: "It sort of changes your outlook and makes you possibly appreciate what you've got a bit more and maybe live your life a bit more as well." In an update in December 2022, Samantha announced she had beaten breast cancer.

Continuing her acting commitments despite her diagnosis, Samantha carried on with her performances in the acclaimed West End production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe while receiving cancer treatment.

Describing her experience with cancer, Samantha said: "It's a bit like learning to think and speak in a different language and it's quite exhausting. Because you're not quite the same person that you were so everything is just slightly shaded in a different colour."

Before joining the cast of Emmerdale, Oliver had already made his mark on soap opera with a stint on Coronation Street as Andy Carvera waiter at Nick's Bistro who met a grim fate not once but twice at the hands of the notorious Pat Phelan.