Emmerdale icon's extraordinary rise from homelessness to world-record fame

ITV Emmerdale favourite Tony Audenshaw has one of the most stunning backstories in soapland - from facing homelessness to becoming a household name and even a Guinness World Record holder. The actor, 59, is beloved by millions of fans as Bob Hope, the cheeky café owner he has played since 2000. But long before finding fame in the Dales, Tony endured tough times trying to make ends meet while chasing his dream of acting.

Born in Denton, Lancashire, on January 13, 1965, Tony admitted that in his early years, he often couldn't afford accommodation when working in London. He revealed he sometimes resorted to sleeping in his car after jobs: "There were occasions where I didn't have enough for a B&B, so I just parked up and tried to get some kip. It wasn't easy, but you do what you have to do." He said on Loose Women. "I used to work at Thorpe Park, the theme park. I used to be the Thorpe Park Rangers and do the voices.

"Up North, things are much cheaper. I came down here in the 80s, and it was £70 for a B&B. If I was down for five nights I would sleep in the car, because I didn't have much money coming in."

Although Tony spent almost one week cramped in his four-wheeler, he alternated days in the car because he found it hard to function.

The soap star explained: "I'd never do it two nights on the trot because you couldn't really function well.

"It was Monday in a B&B, Tuesday in the car - the things you saw in those car parks, torches in the window."

That perseverance paid off. After an early stint in Brookside in the mid-90s, he was first seen on Emmerdale in 1996 in a minor role before landing the part of Bob Hope four years later.

Since then, he has clocked up more than 2,500 episodes, making him one of the soap's longest-serving cast members.

Away from the Yorkshire set, Tony is renowned for his love of running.

In 2010, he entered the London Marathon in a giant baby outfit - and crossed the line in just 3 hours and 13 minutes.

The remarkable time earned him a Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon dressed as a baby.

While that record has since been broken, Tony remains a familiar face at charity events and running clubs across the country. He has also fronted a running podcast and regularly uses his platform to raise funds for causes close to his heart.

His private life has brought both joy and tragedy. Tony married his wife Ruth in 1993, and the couple had two children, George and Emily.

In 2017, Ruth died after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Tony has since spoken movingly about her battle and has dedicated much of his fundraising work to cancer charities in her memory.

On screen, his alter ego Bob has been at the centre of some of Emmerdale's most dramatic and hilarious storylines, including when Bob lost his wife Viv in the post office fire, to his secret affair with Laurel.