For many fans soapstars almost become part of the family as they enter into viewers living rooms every night for an update on their often drama-filled lives.
However, while landing a role on a major soap can be the ultimate break, once stars bid farewell, a fickle industry can mean the end of an illustrious career, and the need to retrain as something new.
This week Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant was spotted pulling pints as the actor surprised fans by revealing his second job, which he manages alongside his acting.
Despite still regularly acting on the ITV soap since he was eight, Joe-Warren, 22, supplements his income with a job at his local pub in Blackpool – something he took on just recently.
So who else balances their acting career with something a little more ordinary? MailOnline take a look at the household names who are also trying their hand at more ‘normal’ jobs.
Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant was spotted pulling pints as the actor surprised fans by revealing his second job, which he manages alongside his acting
Joe-Warren Plant
Joe-Warren Plant is well-known for his role as Jacob Gallagher, however when he isn’t filming for Emmerdale he is busy serving customers in Blackpool, Lancs, who were quick to recognise him.
According to The Mirror, an onlooker at the pub said: ‘Joe-Warren is a friendly lad – he only joined recently so he’s just getting started.
‘It’s not the case at all that he has left Emmerdale, he’s still very much on set. But he knows via friends the owner of the bar and offered to help out.’
Joe-Warren has been always quite private about his personal life as well as his soap earnings, but has been a regular on the series for 16 years.
Aside from the soap he also competed in Dancing On Ice 2021 where he was partnered with Vanessa Bauer.
Despite the pair being highly tipped to win, they had to quit the show when they both tested positive for COVID-19.
Despite still regularly acting on the ITV soap since he was eight, Joe-Warren, now 22, proved to be quite the hard worker as he supplements his income with a job at his local pub – something he took on just recently (pictured on Emmerdale in November 2023)
Georgia May Foote
Georgia May Foote, who is best known for her role as Katy Armstrong on the ITV soap, has launched her own business GMF Nails in the beauty world.
Georgia, who still works in acting and voiceover work according to her social media, first qualified as a nail technician in 2021.
The former soap star has even opened her own salon in Middleton, Manchester, and has an Instagram following of 5,000 people.
Revealing her new venture three years ago, Georgia confirmed she wasn’t giving up acting as she explained: ‘I have had people asking if i am quitting acting, if my work has dried up, if i am skint. The answer to all of the above is HELL NO.
‘I will NEVER give up acting but let me tell you why i am now doing nails in my downtime from acting….’
Georgia’s page reveals that she offers services including 1-1 lessons, as well as builder gel, gel polish and a variety of nail art.
Georgia offers lessons, priced at between £150-£400, for two or six hours respectively.
Georgia May Foote, who is best known for her role as Katy Armstrong on the ITV soap, has launched her own business GMF Nails in the beauty world
The actress is best known for her role as Katy Armstrong on the ITV soap, and after leaving the soap in 2015, her character was killed off-screen in 2017
Adam Rickitt
He was known for playing Nick Tilsley in Coronation Street, however since leaving the soap Adam Rickitt has opened a craft beer bottle shop in Cheshire.
Adam opened Dexter and Jones, in Knutsford with his GMB presenter wife, Katy, with the establishment specialising in craft beer, artisan gins and fine wines.
The duo offer more than 800 different Craft Beers, 10 Draft Beers (which are ever changing), more than 300 small batch Gins and more than 200 different Wines.
Their mission is always to offer the best beverages you won’t find elsewhere, and they recently launched a very unusual Battenburg flavoured stout and Eton Mess sour.
Adam starred in Coronation Street as Gail Tilsley’s son Nick from 1997 to 1999 and then again in 2004 before appearing as Nancy Osborne’s fiance Kyle Kelly in Hollyoaks from 2017 until 2020.
After departing Corrie the first time, Adam set himself on the path of a solo singing career.
I Breathe Again was Adam’s debut track and it reached number five in the UK charts, selling 76,500 copies.
But after his album only managed to reach number 41 he was unceremoniously dropped by his record label.
He was known for playing Nick Tilsley in Coronation Street, however since leaving the soap Adam Rickitt has opened craft beer bottle shop Dexter and Jones in Cheshire
Their mission is always to offer the best beverages you won’t find elsewhere, and they recently launched a very unusual Battenburg flavoured stout and Eton Mess sour
Adam starred in Coronation Street as Gail Tilsley’s son Nick from 1997 to 1999 and then again in 2004
Sean Wilson
Sean Wilson starred on Coronation Street as Martin Platt for 20 years, and after quitting in 2005, he subsequently appeared in several other UK television dramas, including an appearance in Waterloo Road.
Sean, 57, then became a chef, and after meeting Susie Fenwick and the pair set up a cheese-making business called the Saddleworth Cheese Company.
He told Lorraine: ‘We have 46 international and national cheese awards since 2009. Anybody that knows me knows I’m a big cook,’ he said.
‘I became really interested in the science of foods back in the 80s when it wasn’t fashionable, and then in 2005 I went to work at a Michelin star restaurant after leaving Coronation Street.
In 2012, he even published The Great Northern Cookbook and secured a four-part Channel 5 TV series. He’s also cooked in several Michelin-starred restaurants
In 2018, Sean announced he was returning to Reaseheath College to become a lecturer in cheese. He said: ‘I’ll be returning to the class where it all started 10 years ago, as the lecturer.’
Sean appeared back on Coronation Street briefly in 2018 and he told ITV’s Lorraine: ‘I went to the butchers the day before filming and he said, ‘How are you gonna feel? Are you nervous?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know’, but everyone kept asking me and making me nervous!’
‘I walked into the building and when I arrived it was all the same people on the set. The first scene is with Jack [P Shepherd], and the first on-set take they said ‘Thank you very much,’ it was like rolling back the years.
‘It felt like just putting on an old jumper. Everybody made me feel really welcome, I make it sound easy-going but it was really nice.’
Sean Wilson starred on Coronation Street as Martin Platt for 20 years before leaving the soap in 2005, and has delved into the world of cheese-making
After quitting the soap, Sean became a chef, and after meeting Susie Fenwick and the pair set up a cheese-making business called the Saddleworth Cheese Company
Adele Silva
Adele who played the character Kelly Windsor on Emmerdale, is now working as a teacher at the National Film and Television School.
The actress also shares an eight-year-old daughter Sienna with Oliver Farber, after suffering three miscarriages.
Adele, who also made an appearances in Hollyoaks in 2015, is remembered for being part of a number of steamy affair storylines during her time on Emmerdale from 1993-2011.
The star quit Emmerdale following her pregnancy with Sienna and decided not to return for her on-screen sister’s final scenes in the soap because she wanted to concentrate on her first child.
Adele moved to Los Angeles in a bid to find fame as a movie star, but her dreams were dashed and she was revealed to have taken a job as a shop assistant.
After the Daily Mail published pictures of the actress cleaning and stocking up in Ted Baker on Melrose Avenue, Adele said: ‘I’m a jobbing actress and in this climate you can either sell your soul or do an honest day’s work.’
The actress, who returned to the soap for another brief stint in 2011, revealed last year that she wouldn’t rule of making another return to the soap.
Adele who played the character Kelly Windsor on Emmerdale, is now working as a teacher at the National Film and Television School
She starred on the soap in a selection of different stints from 1993 until 2011
Dean Fagan
His character Luke Britton met his death at his hands of serial killer Pat Phelan during his time on Coronation Street back in 2018.
And since leaving the cobbles the star has become the founder and director of the Wrexham Academy of Screen Acting.
After appearing on one of the UK’s most popular soaps as well as roles on the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky, the star decided to take the experience he had learned and pass it on to the next generation of aspiring and seasoned actors.
The school offer assistance for actors filming their own self-tapes for audition as well as a acting mentorship programme and weekly meet up sessions.
He has also established actor headshot studio Northern Heads Photography alongside his brother Rhys.
His character Luke Britton met his death at his hands of serial killer Pat Phelan during his time on Coronation Street back in 2018
Since leaving the cobbles the star has become the founder and director of the Wrexham Academy of Screen Acting
Hetti Bywater
Hetti Bywater was at the centre of one of EastEnders’ most explosive Whodunnits, when her character Lucy Beale was murdered in 2014.
Since then, the young actress has got a job in a bar in north London, with a source telling The Sunday Mirror: ‘She was clearing glasses while punters watched football and smoking fags outside with colleagues.’
Hetti revealed her hatred of Lucy when she hit back at an Instagram troll who had been commenting on her pictures and called her a ‘trampy little w***e’.
She wrote: ‘Seeing as you kindly comment on many of my stories I will now take the time to respond to each one.
‘Firstly, this “posh white” girl is allowed to talk in whatever way she pleases. As much as I’m very found of the English language, I’m free to use words as I see fit. (sic)’
But she agreed with one comment, writing: ‘I’m glad Bobby killed Lucy too, I hated her.’
Answering another point from the troll, she said: ‘LGBTQIA+ history is an extremely important part of education. To believe otherwise is ridiculously problematic and homophobic.’
Hetti then added: ‘Trampy s**t? Fair comment. I do love gay men yes I also love straight men. (The ones who aren’t homophobic or sexist.)’
Hetti Bywater was at the centre of one of EastEnders’ most explosive Whodunnits, when her character Lucy Beale was murdered in 2014
Since then, the young actress has got a job in a bar in north London
Tony Discipline
A decade after bidding farewell to Albert Square, Tony Discipline has completely changed his life outside of the spotlight.
The actor, who portrayed Alfie Moon’s cousin Tyler Moon from 2011 until 2013, has since left acting behind and now works as a firefighter and a barman.
Tony has previously opened up about his career move but didn’t rule out returning to Albert Square if the opportunity ever arose.
He told The Sun: ‘I love it. Every day is different and you feel you’re helping your community. I love it.
‘I loved my time there. It was a great chapter in my life and if the opportunity ever came up, I would definitely be interested. Tyler’s still alive, so it could happen. He left to join his brother Anthony on a cruise. They must have got stuck in the Arctic because it’s been a long old cruise!’
Tony also runs and serves drinks at a travelling bar for events, and weddings, where he has regular run-ins with long-time fans of the soap.
He added: ‘A lot of people call it “The Little Vic” after they see me bartending and recognise me from Eastenders.’
Tony Discipline, 34, who portrayed Alfie Moon’s cousin Tyler Moon from 2011 until 2013, has completely changed his life outside of the spotlight after leaving EastEnders
Despite being part of several dramatic storylines during his two year stint on BBC soap, Tony has since left acting behind and now works as a firefighter and a barman
Adam Woodyatt
After stepping away from EastEnders in 2020, Adam was spotted selling vegan food at a festival in Cheshire.
The actor was helping to run a plant-based street food trailer with catering company Kilty & Co.
He was spotted selling Cajun wedges and kedgeree at Pub In The Park in Wimbledon in 2022, and was seen working in a food stall in Marlow in 2021, telling customers he was ‘getting paid in burgers’.
Adam was on EastEnders from its very first episode in 1985 and was the longest-serving member of the cast of EastEnders when he stepped back from the role three years.
However after Adam has delved into the catering world, he returned to his role as Ian Beale in June, alongside old flame Cindy (played by Michelle Collins).
After leaving EastEnders in 2020, Adam began working on food stalls, and was seen selling vegan dishes at a festival in Cheshire
And while Adam has delved into the catering world, he reprised his role as Ian Beale last June alongside old flame Cindy (played by Michelle Collins)
