Tessa Peake-Jones – Biography, Family and 2025 Update

Tessa Peake-Jones is an English actress who has been a familiar face on British television for more than four decades. She is best known for playing Raquel Turner, the long-suffering partner of Del Boy in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, and for her current role as housekeeper Mrs. Chapman in ITV’s Grantchester. Born on 9 May 1957 in Hammersmith, London, she trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and began her professional career in 1978.

Over the years, Peake-Jones has built a reputation as a reliable character actress, moving between television, theatre, and radio. Her personal life, particularly her long-term relationship with actor Douglas Hodge, has also drawn public interest. This article brings together verified facts about her family, career, net worth, and current activities, based on the most reliable sources available.

Who Is Tessa Peake-Jones Married To?

• Peake-Jones was in a long-term relationship with actor Douglas Hodge from 1984 until their separation in February 2013.
• Most reliable sources describe Hodge as her former partner rather than husband; no official marriage records are cited.
• The couple share two children: Charlie Hodge and Mollie Rose Hodge.
• Hodge famously played Damien Trotter, Del Boy’s son, in the 1996 Only Fools and Horses Christmas special while he was with Peake-Jones in real life.
• She has not remarried or been publicly linked to any other partner since the separation.
• Her family life has remained largely private; she rarely discusses it in interviews.
• Despite occasional tabloid speculation, there is no evidence of any serious health issues affecting her or her family.

What Is Tessa Peake-Jones Doing Now?

As of 2025, Peake-Jones remains active in acting. Her most prominent ongoing role is Mrs. Chapman (also credited as Mrs. Maguire) in the ITV period drama Grantchester, which she has played since the series began in 2014. The show is still in production, and she is listed in cast credits through 2025.

Is She Still in Grantchester?

Yes. According to both Wikipedia and Independent Talent, her agency, she continues to appear in Grantchester as a regular cast member. No announcement of her departure has been made.

What Other Projects Is She Working On?

Beyond Grantchester, no new major television or film projects have been publicly confirmed for 2025. Peake-Jones has a history of theatre and radio work, and sources note she co-founded a theatre company called Tight Assets with Gillian Bevan and Helen Kluger. She may also take on stage roles, but no specific upcoming productions are listed in current databases.

What Is Tessa Peake-Jones Net Worth and Health News?

How Much Is Tessa Peake-Jones Worth?

There is no verifiable, official figure for Tessa Peake-Jones’s net worth. None of the reliable sources – Wikipedia, Independent Talent, IMDb, or Express – provide a sourced number. Online estimates ranging from $500,000 to $3 million are speculative and cannot be confirmed by any public financial disclosure.

Is Tessa Peake-Jones Ill?

No credible reports of serious illness have been published. A search of major news outlets and verified interviews yields no evidence that Peake-Jones has been affected by any health condition that would interrupt her career. The TV Insider profile and Famous Birthdays both list her as active without any mention of health struggles. Rumors circulating on social media or lesser-known websites remain unsubstantiated.

How Did Tessa Peake-Jones’s Career Develop Over Time?

1. 1978–1980: Professional debut on stage and early television, including a role in BBC’s Pride and Prejudice (1980).
2. 1982–1983: Appeared in BBC productions The Bell and The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
3. 1988: First appeared as Raquel Turner in Only Fools and Horses, a role she would reprise until 2003.
4. 1995: Played Mrs. Hurst in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
5. 1996: Her real-life partner Douglas Hodge played her on-screen son in the Only Fools and Horses Christmas special.
6. 2003: Made her final appearance as Raquel in the spin-off series The Green Green Grass and subsequent specials.
7. 2014: Began her role as Mrs. Chapman in Grantchester, which continues in 2025.

What Is Known for Certain and What Remains Unclear?

What Is Tessa Peake-Jones’s Place in British Television?

Tessa Peake-Jones has maintained a steady, unflashy career over four decades. Her portrayal of Raquel Turner made her a household name in the UK during the peak of Only Fools and Horses. That show remains one of the most-watched sitcoms in British history, and her character is remembered as the grounding influence on Del Boy.

In later years, Grantchester introduced her to a younger audience. Her role as the sharp, kind-hearted housekeeper has become a fan favourite. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she has avoided tabloid controversy and keeps her personal life out of the spotlight.

She has also worked extensively in radio and co-founded the theatre company Tight Assets, demonstrating a commitment to performance beyond television.

Where Can You Find Verified Information About Tessa Peake-Jones?

The most comprehensive and trusted sources for her biography are Wikipedia (frequently updated with citations) and IMDb (for filmography). Her talent agency Independent Talent provides a professional profile with a verified headshot and credit list. For interviews and retrospectives, Saga Magazine published a conversation with her about her Only Fools and Horses memories.

What’s Next for Tessa Peake-Jones?

As of 2025, no new major projects have been announced beyond her continuing role in Grantchester. Given her established pattern of theatre and radio work, she may take on stage performances or guest appearances in other series. For now, she remains a working actress with no announced retirement. For comparison with other British actors of a similar era, you might read about John Simm – Complete Biography, Career and Personal Life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tessa Peake-Jones