Vinnie Jones looks loved-up with girlfriend Emma Ford as they arrive at 27th Goodwood Revival – six years after the tragic death of his wife Tanya

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Actor Vinnie Jones and his girlfriend, Emma Ford, were all smiles as they arrived at the Goodwood Revival event in West Sussex on Sunday, holding hands.

The 60-year-old actor, known for his tough-guy roles and former career as a footballer, was seen looking affectionate while holding hands with his partner, who works as a script consultant and actress.

Vinnie, first seen with Emma in December, looked sharp in a long navy blazer.

The Netflix star wore a stylish outfit featuring a patterned blue shirt, striking burgundy pants, and blue suede boots.

Vinnie wrapped up in a wool scarf and completed his daytime ensemble with a tan fedora hat. 

Emma caught everyone’s attention with a striking dark leopard print fur coat, paired with navy corduroy pants and black boots.

I love seeing a pop of color in an outfit, and this look definitely delivers! She was rocking a vibrant green fedora, paired with a gorgeous burgundy handbag, and was prepared for any weather with a classic umbrella. It’s all about making a statement and being practical, and she nailed it!

Vinnie and Emma, who first met in 2022 when Emma started working as his personal assistant, seemed happy as they arrived at the event.

This event, celebrating classic racing and a vintage atmosphere, honors the 60th anniversary of Jim Clark – a Scottish racing icon – and his most triumphant year.

Vinnie married Tanya in 1994, and they were together for many years. Sadly, she was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013. After a six-year battle, which included the cancer spreading to her brain, she passed away in 2018.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! Vinnie actually told the Mirror last year that he’s found someone new – Emma! It’s amazing news, but it’s also… a little shocking, because back in 2019, he swore up and down he’d *never* be with anyone else! I mean, he was so adamant. It’s just… wow. I’m happy for him, of course, but part of me is still reeling from that old quote!

The actor, known for his role in ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,’ explained that even after months, years, or even decades, you continue to move forward, and the sadness always remains a part of you.

Emma used to be a personal assistant for Mick Jones of The Clash and also reported on celebrity events on Hollywood’s red carpets. After living and working in Los Angeles for many years, she recently moved back to the UK.

They met during the pandemic, and their connection blossomed at Vinnie’s farm in West Sussex. She also gained popularity appearing in a Discovery+ documentary series last November that followed Vinnie’s transition to country living.

Emma, who viewers enjoyed seeing as Vinnie Jones’ kind and helpful assistant on his show, has also given up alcohol.

Last year, the TV star shared that Emma had vowed to his late wife, Tanya, to care for him, explaining he didn’t want to be left on his own.

She told me she’d spoken with Tanz and offered to care for him for me,” he explained. “That conversation really stood out to me – it was a key moment.

Vinnie told The Sunday Times that he believes Tanya would have wanted him to move on and find happiness with someone else.

He explained that he felt calm because he believed she didn’t want him to be alone, as he knew being alone wouldn’t make him happy.

In 1994, Vinnie married Tanya, who was his childhood next-door neighbour, and became a stepfather to her daughter, Kayley.

But tragically she was diagnosed with cancer in 2013, and later died at the age of 53 in 2019.

They first met at a cricket match in Watford when they were twelve years old, and they awkwardly flirted with each other throughout their teenage years.

‘Even when he was a tearaway lad, I knew he had a good heart,’ Tanya said of Vinnie.

He finally worked up the nerve to walk her home one evening, but it didn’t lead to anything beyond a slightly uncomfortable tea with her mom.

That was the end of things until the mid-1980s, when she separated from her previous partner and became a single mother to her four-year-old daughter, Kayley.

Vinnie, who was unmarried at the time, happened to live nearby on the same street in Hemel Hempstead.

Vinnie adapted quickly to his new life, caring for Tanya, Kayley, and his son, Aaron.

He was famous for his extravagant displays of affection. He showered Tanya with gifts – flowers arrived constantly, and he’d often buy her a whole collection of dresses at once. One Valentine’s Day, he really outdid himself, gifting her a Peugeot convertible, two dozen roses, and a heartfelt note declaring his love.

For Tanya, it wasn’t grand gestures, but rather his gentle kindness that truly made her fall in love with him. He consistently supported her through difficult times, like when she was hospitalized for women’s health issues, and he remained understanding and accepting when she shared the heartbreaking news that they wouldn’t be able to have children.

Tanya first experienced health problems at age 21 when her heart had difficulty during the birth of her daughter.

After receiving a heart transplant from a 14-year-old boy in Germany, she lived for many years, becoming one of the longest-living heart transplant recipients.

Tanya’s father had cautioned Vinnie about her delicate health and pleaded with him to end the relationship if he didn’t intend to commit long-term.

Although the couple loved each other deeply, their 25-year marriage faced a lot of challenges, even beyond her ongoing health issues.

For many years, Vinnie battled alcoholism. In 1995, during an incident at a Dublin pub, he bit a journalist’s nose and then, overwhelmed with shame, retreated to the woods near his home in Hertfordshire with a shotgun, intending to take his own life.

Honestly, it broke my heart to hear about the incident with his neighbor, but I always believed him when he said seeing Tanya in court – looking so weak and fragile – was a turning point. He said those 140 hours of community service weren’t a punishment, but a wake-up call. It completely changed him, and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It was awful seeing her there, but it genuinely made him a better person, I swear!

In 2012, a particularly damaging incident occurred when photos surfaced of him kissing a woman in a Russian nightclub. He claimed it was a setup, a “honey trap,” but the incident almost ended his 20-year marriage to Tanya.

Their hardships continued. In 2013, Vinnie found a cancerous lump on his face, and shortly after, Tanya was diagnosed with melanoma. Doctors believed her cancer was likely caused by the medication she had been taking since receiving her heart transplant.

While Vinnie made a good recovery, Tanya’s battered body had finally run out of reserves.

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2025-09-14 18:20