For a man best known on screen for quiet strength and reassuring charm, Robson Green has lived a love life far more turbulent than many viewers realise.
Now appearing on Saturday Kitchen Best Bites, the 61-year-old actor’s romantic past reveals a story of passion, heartbreak, public scrutiny — and hard-earned reflection.
His Current Relationship — And the Affair That Shook a Community
Robson has been in a relationship with Zoila Short since 2016. The pair met at a gym in Newcastle — but their romance began while Zoila was still married.
At the time, Zoila was the wife of the Reverend Geoffrey Short, vicar of the North Tyneside village of Wideopen and a former Sunday School teacher. She later left her husband to be with Robson, a decision that quickly became the talk of the community.
Speaking openly after the split, Rev Short described the moment his marriage collapsed as “very painful” and “completely out of the blue.” He recalled Zoila telling him bluntly:
“I’m leaving you for Robson Green.”
The end of their 16-year marriage reportedly left him questioning his faith. While admitting to feelings of anger toward Robson, he said:
“As a Christian, I have to forgive.”
The situation became impossible to escape. With Robson’s face constantly on television, Rev Short later admitted he felt “haunted” by the actor’s presence.
An Age-Gap Relationship That ‘Keeps Him Young’
Despite around a decade between them in age, Robson has insisted the gap has only strengthened his relationship with Zoila.
In interviews, he has credited her with keeping him young — both emotionally and physically. The couple share a love of fishing, often heading out together in waders to catch trout and salmon.
“She’s amazing,” Robson once said.
“She was brought up fishing — and she really knows how to cook it too.”
Zoila, a mother of two, now lives with Robson in Northumberland. The couple went public with their relationship in 2018 — a storyline that wouldn’t feel out of place in one of Robson’s own TV dramas.
His First Marriage — And the Affair That Changed His Image
Robson’s first wife was Alison Ogilvie, an occupational therapist. They married in 1991 but divorced eight years later in 1999, following reports that Robson had been unfaithful.
The alleged affair didn’t just end the marriage — it also damaged his previously wholesome public image. Reports emerged linking him to Soldier Soldier extra Jenni White, followed by a relationship with public relations executive Pam Sharrock, who later spoke publicly about a four-year affair with the actor.
In the aftermath, Robson admitted he needed help.
Speaking in 2001, he revealed he sought counselling to come to terms with the fallout:
“I saw this incredible therapist who allowed me to talk things through. I came away with genuine peace of mind.”
Marriage, Fatherhood — And Another Divorce
Robson later married former Page 3 model Vanya Seager, whom he met in 1995 while she was working as a PA for Simon Cowell. The couple married in 2001 at Cliveden House, following the birth of their son, Taylor, a year earlier.
Reflecting on fatherhood, Robson later admitted he underestimated how demanding it would be.
“I just hadn’t realised the amount of energy that bringing up a child takes out of you — until my time off.”
In 2011, Robson and Vanya announced their marriage had “irretrievably broken down”, and they divorced later that year.
A Life Marked by Love, Loss — And Reflection
From affairs that rocked communities to marriages that quietly ended behind closed doors, Robson Green’s love life has been anything but simple.
Yet those close to the actor say the turbulence has shaped a more reflective, grounded man — one who understands the cost of passion, the weight of public scrutiny, and the importance of emotional honesty.
Behind the calm TV presence lies a story filled with difficult choices, painful consequences, and lessons learned the hard way.
Sometimes, the most dramatic roles aren’t played on screen at all.
