The actress played Gina Ward in ITV drama Heartbeat, which ran for 18 seasons until 2010.

Tricia Penrose has celebrated a momentous occasion, as she now owns the pub her character used to work in.

The actress is best known for her role as Gina Ward in ITV drama Heartbeat. The police drama ran from 1993 to 2010, and marked the star’s longest-running role after she joined in the second season.

Her character faced tragedy and heartbreak as part of the Aidensfield residents cast, after the love of her life devastatingly died, a series of failed relationships, and her premature baby boy also dying two days after she gave birth.

Away from Heartbeat, Tricia had also previously appeared in the likes of Brookside, Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

She later went on to appear in Heartbeat’s spin-off show, The Royal, as well as reality programmes including Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank, Celebrity MasterChef, and as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother 11, where she was evicted in the semi-final alongside Frankie Dettori.

Aside from her career in acting, Tricia released two singles, Where Did Our Love Go? In 1996 and Don’t Wanna Be Alone in 2000.

Tricia has now marked a full-circle moment, as she announced on social media: “Some fantastic news to announce I’m now the proud owner along with two local businessman of @thegoathlandhotel where I played Gina Ward for 18 years The Aidensfield Arms. Watch this space woohoo.”

One fan replied: “Wow we visited that place to visit the heartbeat set. Imagine the delight people will have when they see you there.”

Another said: “That’s absolutely fantastic to hear! Hoping to come and stay in the near future!”

Someone else said: “My other half will be ecstatic and will want to visit hoping to see you behind the bar! He loved you in Heartbeat! We all know that’s very unlikely but wish you all the very best in your new venture.”

Another said: “That’s amazing Tricia so many memories for you.” Someone else echoed: “Fantastic news, a true full circle of life."

Inside Tricia Penrose’s private life

Tricia was married to TV presenter and entrepreneur, Mark Simpkin, from 2003 to 2021.

After they announced their split, a source said they’d “decided to go their separate ways after realising they had grown apart and it would be better for everyone that they ended the marriage”.

The pair welcomed their first son together in 2003, followed by a second in 2008, but keep their children’s lives away from the public eye.

Earlier this year, Tricia announced she’d married “the love of my life”, Chris Hargreaves.

The couple celebrated their Lancashire wedding in May, with Tricia being showered in support from her followers.

In 2014, Tricia opened up about taking a step back from her TV career to care for her mum, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer four years earlier.

She told Great British Life at the time: “I remember the phone call. My mum just cried out “I’ve got lung cancer”. I literally collapsed right there on the floor. We cried and talked it over for hours.”

After hearing that her mum had just weeks to live, she went on: “It was horrible to hear. At best, people with stage three lung cancer are lucky to live for a year.

“I didn’t know what to do, this was my mum. I ended up with terrible depression and was on anti-depressants for a while.

“We had been told to prepare for the worst and when she was having treatment my mum wanted to plan her funeral. I just cried all the time.”

After her mum’s diagnosis, Tricia became involved with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, becoming an Ambassador for the charity.