EastEnders' Jill Halfpenny reveals 'unbearable' pain after partner died in gym

EastEnders actress Jill Halfpenny, who played Kate Mitchell, has spoken out about the 'unbearable' pain she felt after her partner's sudden death in a gym.

In 2017 while Jill's partner, who has remained unnamed, went to the gym he suffered a heart attack and died. Now, the 44-year-old actress has spoken out about the traumatic experience and how it reminded her of losing her dad during her childhood.

Appearing on The Two Shot Podcast, she explained, "Something happened a couple of years ago - I experienced something I've never ever spoken about.

"In January 2017 my partner, in very similar circumstances to my dad, went to the gym, had a heart attack and died."

She went on to detail how her partner's death took her back to losing her dad at the age of four; he went to play football and had a heart attack before passing away.

"What happened was that it brought all of my grief from my dad as well; it was like dealing with a double loss - a loss I'd never dealt with." She bravely went on to say, "Oh my god, it's unbearable. I cannot cope with these feelings.

"I just want cessation: the feeling to stop."

Coronation Street fans will remember Jill as Rebecca Hopkins the nurse who had an affair with Martin Platt and left him heartbroken.

She then appeared on EastEnders as Kate Mitchell who was an undercover police officer trying to get Phil to confess to killing Lisa Fowler. Kate fell in love with Phil and the pair got married, however she later divorced him.

She then supported Little Mo after she was raped by Graham Foster and left the Square after she's offered a job in the police force.

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