‘It means the world’: Soap stars unite to support Emmerdale couple for a cause close to their hearts

Stars from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks came together this weekend in support of Laura Norton and Mark Jordon to raise awareness and funds for Cure Usher Syndrome at their annual charity ball.

Usher Syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes hearing and vision loss and, in some cases, affects balance. There is currently no cure for Usher Syndrome – something that Mark and Laura and the Cure Usher Syndrome charity are working hard to change.

In 2023, Laura and Mark shared the news that their children, Jesse, 5, and Ronnie, 3, had been diagnosed with Usher Syndrome.

Later that year, Metro was invited to cover their first charity ball, where countless Emmerdale co-stars flooded the red carpet to show their support.

Now, three years on, their support has only grown, with stars from Coronation Street and Hollyoaks also stepping up to help raise awareness and much needed funds.

A major part of the fundraising effort was an auction, with prizes including private tours around the Emmerdale and Coronation Street sets, as well as a lunch with a host of soap stars.

The stars of the soaps were eager to push the bidding higher, with Theo Silverton actor James Cartwright jumping out of his seat with a promise to take the highest bidder out for drinks before the Corrie tour as part of the grand prize.

‘During the auction, James Cartwright just jumping up and trying to get the crowd going and offering more to try and help us, things like that mean the world,’ Laura told me when I caught up with the couple during the ball. ‘And then Roxy [Shahidi] getting all the girls up out of the soaps to get the room going. It really works.’

And there were plenty of other ways Laura and Mark’s co-stars stepped up. Laurel Thomas actress Charlotte Bellamy donned a staff lanyard to greet guests alongside Laura, former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson stepped in to host the evening alongside radio show co-host Matt Halsam, while Corrie’s Eva Price star Catherine Tyldesley opened the evening with an emotional performance of For Good from the hit musical Wicked.

‘I hope I have chosen the songs accordingly. I feel like there’s a lot of meaning behind the first song, and I really hope that it shows that we are here to support, and we live in hope, and we are determined,’ Catherine told me when we caught up before the ball.

‘It’s so wonderful to be here this year, and it seems to be just getting bigger and bigger every year from the sounds of things. They’ve got an amazing line-up, so we’re really hopeful that we’re going to raise a lot of money tonight,’ she added.

Like Catherine, Ross Barton star Michael Parr was a first-time attendee of the ball.

‘We’re so proud of [Laura]. It’s bittersweet because ultimately we are trying to raise money for a very serious cause, but I think Laura and Mark should be proud of their achievements because I certainly am,’ he enthused.

Other stars have been regular faces at the Cure Usher Ball, including Michelle Hardwick, who plays Vanessa Woodfield in Emmerdale, and wife Kate Brooks, Coronation Street’s producer.

‘It’s always so important to be here and help raise awareness and raise as much money as we can for this. It’s such a wonderful ball, as well. Laura and Mark and all the team, they work so hard every year to put this on, and it’s fantastic,’ Michelle said.

Reflecting on the turn out of soap star supporters, Michelle added: ‘Obviously we’ve got the Emmerdale guys, and me and Kate have rounded up a few of the Corrie ones this year. It’s gorgeous. Really lovely.’

And the support didn’t go unnoticed by Mark and Laura, who first met on set at Emmerdale while playing Daz Spencer and Kerry Wyatt.

‘There was a lot of love in the room tonight,’ Laura said. ‘There always is, but it just felt even more so tonight. It just had a different vibe and a different energy and then the auction went off. Everything looks amazing and we’re just so proud to get the message across.

‘It’s really difficult because it’s been a really hard and awkward year for everybody,’ Mark added. ‘And I feel like to be in a room where people are willing to raise their hands and know what it’s all about, it’s a really tough time so we’re very honoured to have the faith in people coming and doing what they do.’

‘It’s been ten months of really hard work. Every year, but this year has felt especially difficult. It’s been really hard, and it takes away precious time from our babies that we’re doing this for, but we know we have to do it for them,’ Laura admitted.

‘I said to Mark a couple of weeks ago, “This is hard. This is a lot.” But now, after being in the room and seeing the way people support, we can’t stop. We’ve just got to keep going.’