Emmerdale's Jack Sugden has mystery illness

Emmerdale star Clive Hornby has taken leave from the ITV soap because of ill health.

The Mirror reports that the mystery illness may rule him out of the soap for ever, although a spokesman for the show said: "We can confirm that Clive is unwell but fully intends to return to work."

Flatcap-wearing Clive, 63 - who has played Jack Sugden for 28 years - is its longest-serving actor and has filmed episodes to be broadcast up to mid-February.

He told cast and crew of his illness last week, but Clive has also told producers at ITV Yorkshire that he is determined to fight his illness and fully intends to return to work.

He told the Mirror recently: "I can't believe I'm still here sometimes. Some of the kids in the show weren't even born when I started."

He laughed: "I do sometimes wonder if they're looking at me and thinking, 'Oh, he's a sad old b*****d, being here for so long'. But I love it. I must be a survivor because 28 years is a long time to survive in a soap."