ITV Emmerdale star James Moore's real life away form Ryan Stocks role

James Moore, best known for his portrayal of Ryan Stocks in the popular ITV soap Emmerdale, has been warmly received by audiences since his introduction to the show.

The actor, originally from Cheltenham, first appeared on screen in 2018 as Charity Dingle's long-lost son, a revelation that came about during her distressing sexual abuse narrative. Charity's son was born following her rape by police officer Mark Bails when she was just 14 years old.

Ryan's arrival in the Yorkshire village in search of his mother sent shockwaves through the Dingle family. Since then, he has been involved in several major plotlines, including Charity's legal battle against Ryan's biological father, the corrupt policeman Mark Bails.

In contrast to his on-screen life, James' real life is significantly less tumultuous. Prior to joining Emmerdale, he completed a degree in photography and trained at the National Youth Theatre.

Health Battle

James lives with ataxic cerebral palsy and is a strong advocate for disability representation in the media. In a conversation with Disability Horizons about his condition, he shared: "So firstly, I have cerebral palsy (CP), but it's Ataxic CP, which basically means that I struggle with movement and co-ordination. I find it difficult to walk long distances and there are certain things I know I can't do, but I've adapted to these challenges in my day-to-day life."

He commented: "This is why I love being a part of Emmerdale, it's showing disability in a new light and letting viewers know that disabled people can be independent and have full, healthy lives. Together, we're proving that disability isn't a defining factor."

Love life

The romance between James and his fiancee Sophie Edwards, who got engaged last year in May 2022, reached its climax as they exchanged vows at an exquisite lakeside manor house. Anticipation brewed earlier this week as James subtly announced their union by updating his Instagram bio to read 'Husband to Sophie Edwards.'

The idyllic wedding ceremony saw one hundred guests gather to celebrate the occasion, which included several of James's co-stars from Emmerdale. In a departure from tradition, James chose a vibrant deep purple two-piece suit for his wedding attire.

Sophie presented a vision of beauty walking down the aisle in her princess-style dress adorned with leaf embellishments. The couple injected their unique twist into the day with a Simpsons-themed doughnut wall and entertained their guests further with a temporary tattoo booth showcasing various Pokemon designs.

Speaking to OK! about his views on wedding conventions, James revealed: "We never wanted to be particularly traditional. I mean, my suit was blooming purple. It took me months to find."

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.