Joe Inglis and Emma Milne were hailed as television’s “perfect couple”. Millions of fans watched as the charismatic pair’s romance blossomed on BBC1’s hit docu-soap Vets In Practice, and celebrated when Emma asked Joe to marry her.

Ten million viewers witnessed their wedding ceremony in Northamptonshire and the Hawaiian-style reception in Joe’s father’s back garden. But, poignantly, those same fans were later dismayed when Emma told Joe that getting married was a mistake and that she wanted to leave him.

Those moving scenes were screened just over a year ago, although they were actually filmed in November 2000. Now, Joe has revealed to HELLO! that he has been trying to pick up the pieces ever since Emma delivered the on-screen bombshell that made him feel “as if someone had died”. “We were said to be Britain’s most perfect couple,” Joe, 29, says. It’s really strange to look back on all the hype that was flying around because we did not live up to the accolade. Who could? I think we were as far from being the ‘perfect couple’ as you could be.”

To read more about the Vets In Practice star and see photos of him and his beloved pets check out this week’s copy of HELLO! magazine on sale now.