James Cohen, who now lives as Kara, was on ITV’s This Morning to talk about living as a woman.
Joined by her wife of eight years, Eirian, she opened up about the moment she revealed she wanted to live as a woman just four months ago.
Read more: Emmerdale: Has Pierce raped women before?
Eirian, who has two children with Kara, spoke about how she felt when Kara revealed she didn’t want to live as a man.
Speaking to hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford she admitted: “My first words were ‘OK…what exactly does that mean?
“I was in shock, and I couldn’t think. I just thought: “It’s OK, it’s going to be OK.”
Eirian, 35, revealed she “wanted to find people who were going through what I was”.
However viewers of the show were quick to slate Kara for the most bizarre reason.
Many fans ranted about her “bad wig” and not “shaving your ‘tache”.
One wrote: “Husband is not your wife. He’s a man in a bad wig & wearing your clothes. Still your husband #Thismorning.”
“Could of at least shaved your tash James, a mean Kara. #Thismorning,” [sic] another tweeted.
Read more: Emmerdale fans love Chrissie’s new look, but slate her parenting
Another added: “#thismorning it’s got a lovely tash.”
“Jesus… Kara looks like she’s been styled by Trinny… #thismorning,” one said.
The couple married in 2009 and went on to have two daughters, Seren, seven, and Electra, six.
Opening up about their relationship Eirian said: “We have always had a very honest relationship but I always knew there something she wasn’t admitting.
“When we got married she seemed to be quite obsessed with my wedding dress, and she wanted to try it on as a laugh.”
But the mum-of-two went on to explain the pair are still “close” and are now “best friends”.
She said: “Although I have now lost my husband, I have gained an amazing best friend, I am still very much in love with her but as a best friend.
“We are not separating in any way, we still sleep in the same bed.”