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Siobhan Finneran and Mark Jordon: life after their split

TUKO Wire source Wednesday, August 19, 2026

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Siobhan Finneran and Mark Jordon: life after their split — Entertainment · The Horizon Wire

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Siobhan Finneran's partner is actor Don Gilet, whom she has been with since 2018 — several years after her divorce from fellow actor Mark Jordon was finalised in 2014. The former couple, who share two children, have both moved on to new relationships and continued to thrive professionally. Their post-split lives offer a study in quiet reinvention: one leading ITV crime dramas, the other championing a cause close to his family's heart.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

- Siobhan Finneran and Mark Jordon married in 1997 and divorced in 2014 after 17 years together.

- They share two children: Joseph Seamus (born December 1997) and Poppy Niamh (born September 2000).

- Siobhan has been with Death in Paradise actor Don Gilet since 2018.

- Mark married Emmerdale actress Laura Norton in 2015; they have two children, Jesse and Ronnie, both diagnosed with Usher syndrome.

- Siobhan led ITV thriller Protection in 2025, drawing over 8 million viewers.

Profile summary

Siobhan Finneran | Mark Jordon | |

Full name | Siobhan Margaret Finneran | Mark Jordon |

Date of birth | 27 April 1966 | 25 January 1965 |

Birthplace | Oldham, Lancashire, England | Oldham, Lancashire, England |

Occupation | Actress | Actor, director, producer |

Years active | 1986–present | 1983–present |

Known for | Happy Valley, Downton Abbey, Benidorm | Heartbeat, Emmerdale |

Married | 1997–2014 (to each other) | 1997–2014 (to each other) |

Current partner | Don Gilet (2018–present) | Laura Norton (2015–present) |

Children | Joseph Seamus, Poppy Niamh | 4 (Joseph, Poppy, Jesse, Ronnie) |

Siobhan Finneran and Mark Jordon: their marriage and split

Jordon married actress Siobhan Finneran in 1997, the same year their first child was born. They have two children: Joseph Seamus, born December 1997, and Poppy Niamh, born September 2000.

Both were born and raised in Oldham, Lancashire. Mark Jordon is an English actor best known for portraying PC Phil Bellamy in the long-running ITV period drama Heartbeat from 1992 to 2007. Siobhan, meanwhile, worked consistently in television drama, including roles in Coronation Street (1989–1990), Clocking Off (2000–2002) and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006).

They divorced in 2014, having had two children together. Neither has spoken extensively about the reasons for the split. Both remarried — or found new partners — relatively quickly.

Joseph and Poppy: what became of their children?

Joseph Seamus was born in December 1997, and Poppy Niamh arrived in September 2000. The children grew up with both parents remaining in the public eye. After the divorce, Mark continued to speak fondly of his older children. Jordon wrote on Instagram that he has "the most amazing older children Joseph and Poppy" who "share our life" with his younger son Jesse.

Siobhan Finneran's partner: Don Gilet

How long have Don Gilet and Siobhan been together?

Siobhan's partner is Don Gilet, and they have been together since 2018. The pair first crossed paths on the set of ITV crime drama series The Loch, where Siobhan played DCI Lauren Quigley and Don portrayed forensic psychologist Blake Albrighton. The two actors worked together on the 2017 drama and were reported to be dating the year afterwards, although they mostly keep their relationship to themselves.

Don Gilet is best known as Lucas Johnson in EastEnders (2008–2010, 2016, 2020–2021, 2024), Jesse Law in Holby City (2014–2016), and DI Mervin Wilson in Death in Paradise (2024–).

Siobhan gave a rare glimpse into her relationship with Don, revealing why they have chosen to maintain separate residences. Their professional relationship turned romantic in 2018, despite Siobhan living in Saddleworth and Don residing in north London — though the distance doesn't pose a problem, as Don spends most of his time abroad in Guadeloupe filming for Death in Paradise.

The Protection star dismissed the notion of them being a "power couple" and confessed that they can be quite "hopeless" when it comes to organisation. In an interview with The Times, she quipped:

"You wouldn't think we were a power couple this morning, both running around trying to get out of the house on time. Hopeless." — Siobhan Finneran, The Times via MSN

Don and Siobhan on screen together

In a fun twist, Siobhan appeared as a guest star on Death in Paradise Season 15 alongside her real-life partner. In an appearance on This Morning to promote the show's return, Gilet was asked about her appearance and quipped: "Is she? I thought they edited her out."

He also joked, in a This Morning interview reported by Digital Spy:

"'I've got a surprise for you,' I said [to Siobhan]. She thought I was gonna propose. 'No, some acting.'"

Siobhan's role in Death in Paradise saw her play Fleur Edwards in episode 15.3.

Mark Jordon's life after the spli

Mark Jordon and Laura Norton

Jordon's wife is his former Emmerdale colleague Laura Norton, alongside whom he also appeared in the ITV reality show Drama Queens. Laura Norton (born 19 June 1983) is an English actress, known for her role as Kerry Wyatt on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale.

On 8 July 2014, Jordon joined the cast of Emmerdale in the short-term role of Daz Spencer, and reprised the role in August 2017, becoming a regular cast member until 31 January 2019. That on-screen partnership became an off-screen romance.

The pair have two children together: Jesse, born in 2021, and daughter Ronnie, who followed a year later.

The Usher syndrome diagnosis

Mark and Laura have been notably open about a serious health challenge facing their young family. Both children were diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a rare condition that causes deafness or hearing loss along with an eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa.

Mark told Hello!: "We've agonised about doing this before we've even told our children about their condition. But we would never forgive ourselves if we did nothing when we could be making changes that would help them and other children."

"Although it was devastating when Ronnie was diagnosed with the same condition as her brother, it was comforting that neither of them will go through this on their own — that they've got each other." — Mark Jordon, Hello! via AOL

The pair hosted the 2024 Cure Usher Ball to raise as much cash as possible to help find a cure.

Siobhan Finneran's career highlights

In 2005, Finneran originated the lead female role in the stage play On the Shore of the Wide World and was awarded the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

She appeared as Janice Garvey, a leading character in the first seven series of the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2015). Later roles included an embittered servant in the first three series of the costume drama Downton Abbey (2010–2012) and a recovering addict in Happy Valley (2014–2023), for which she was nominated for the 2017 BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Selected television credits

Year | Title | Role |

1989–1990 | Coronation Street | Josie Phillips |

2000–2002 | Clocking Off | Julie O'Neill |

2007–2015 | Benidorm | Janice Garvey |

2010–2012 | Downton Abbey | O'Brien |

2014–2023 | Happy Valley | Clare Cartwright |

2025 | Protection | DI Liz Nyles |

2026 | Death in Paradise | Fleur Edwards |