Emmerdale [News, Spoilers and Discussion]

JP Liz

Emma Atkins is to make a shock comeback to Emmerdale as Charity Tate later this year as part of the ITV soap's major overhaul.

The 33-year-old, who played the role for five years between 2000 and 2005, is the first in a wave of "stunning new signings" that will inject a new lease of life into the show when it's revamped over the coming months.

The announcement comes two months after producers revealed that Jeff Hordley was returning to the soap as Charity's cousin and former lover, Cain Dingle.

Cain reappears in Emmerdale in April and Charity is due to return with her five-year-old son Noah in a blaze of glory shortly afterwards, to the shock of her daughter Debbie (Charley Webb).

Speaking of her decision to reprise her role, she said: "Charity is a wonderfully complex character and an absolute joy to play. I couldn't resist the opportunity to explore a new era of Charity, Cain and Debbie and will relish seeing what she's been up to since we saw her last."

Series producer Gavin Blyth added: "It's going to be an incredibly exciting year for Emmerdale with Charity and Cain back at the heart of the action.

"This is the first in a series of new signings and intriguing characters on the horizon and we're going to delight in reminding viewers that when it comes to compelling drama and commanding characters, Emmerdale is a force to be reckoned with."

Charity first appeared in Emmerdale in March 2000 for her cousin Butch's funeral, but it later emerged that she was a prostitute on the run from the police. She quickly went on to marry millionaire Chris Tate in 2001, before having an affair with her sister-in-law Zoe.

When Chris died after drinking a poisoned glass of champagne in 2003, it soon transpired that he had committed suicide in an attempt to frame Charity for his murder.

She later went on to have a relationship with Tom King, but on their wedding day, Tom was shown some damning photos of Charity kissing Cain by Sadie, who had hired Cain to set her up.

Charity was last seen on screen in March, fleeing the village with her one-year-old Noah after exacting her revenge on Sadie King (Patsy Kensit) by having a fling with her husband Jimmy King (Nick Miles).

Atkins will begin filming and reappear on screen later in the year.

gazzer

This is great news. Charity is one of my all time favourite Emmerdale characters. Hopefully she will get good storylines.

angel01

It will be good to have Charity and Cain back!

JP Liz

Former Hollyoaks actor James Sutton has joined the cast of Emmerdale.

The 26-year-old, who starred as John Paul McQueen in the Channel 4 soap, is to take on the role of mechanic Ryan Lamb, son of Faye (Kim Thomson).

Ryan first appears in the village in June and quickly becomes entangled in his mother's revenge plot on Mark Wylde (Maxwell Caulfield), while also catching the attention of many of the local females, most notably Katie Sugden (Sammy Winward).

As Mark attempts to prevent the skeletons in his closet from emerging, Ryan's arrival makes the self-made millionaire realise just what his lies could cost him.

Speaking of his signing, Sutton said: "I'm thrilled to be joining a show as respected and well-loved as Emmerdale. It was always on in our house when I was growing up so I’m excited to be a part of it.

"I'm looking forward to playing such an interesting character and one so different from previous roles I've played."

Series producer Gavin Blyth added: "This year will spell a new era for Emmerdale and I'm delighted to be welcoming James to the cast as a key component in the new direction the show will be taking. James is an extremely talented actor and will bring a real presence to the role of Ryan."

Sutton is the fourth actor announced to be joining Emmerdale as part of the show's 2009 revamp. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Jeff Hordley will reprise his role as Cain Dingle at the end of April. At the same time, UK soap's first blind actress Kitty McGeever joins as Lisa Dingle's (Jane Cox) friend Lizzie Lakely.

Emma Atkins is also due to return as vixen Charity Tate.

Sutton announced his decision to quit Hollyoaks in June last year following his two-year stint as John Paul when the teen soap's McDean storyline reached its natural Sunset Ending resolve. His departure tied in with the brief return of Guy Burnet as Craig Dean.

At the end of last year, Sutton made a guest appearance as a narcoleptic in Casualty.

JP Liz

Tuesday 28 April 7pm

Furious to receive a letter from Natasha’s solicitor, Andy and Maisie confront Debbie. Things get heated and Debbie dunks Maisie in a horse trough. As Andy tries to pull Debbie away she kicks him and has to be dragged away by Lisa Aware she may have ruined everything, Debbie returns home extremely low. She is shocked to find Cain awaiting her return.

JP Liz

Former Cutting It actress Siân Reeves has joined the cast of Emmerdale for a six-month stint.
The 44-year-old, who played Sydney Henshall in the BBC salon drama, will take on the role of Sally Spode, an old love interest of Ashley Thomas (John Middleton). Ashley's wife Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy), however, takes an immediate disliking to her.
Of her casting, Reeves said: "Sally was Ashley's first love and he is a bit unnerved to see her in the village. I'm delighted to be joining such a celebrated show and looking forward to filming my first scenes."

Emmerdale series producer Gavin Blyth said: "We're delighted to welcome an actress of Sian's calibre to the show."
He added: "We have a great story coming up for Laurel and Ashley, and Sian's character will be right in the thick of the action, as the strength of their marriage is put to the test with unusual yet dramatic consequences."

an affair for Ashley maybe

JP Liz

Emmerdale actress Sammy Winward has expressed her delight at her character's new forthcoming romance.

The 23-year-old's Yorkshire counterpart Katie Sugden has recently been caught between Lee Naylor (Lewis Linford) and Nathan Wylde (Lyndon Ogbourne), but one of the show's newcomers will soon be vying for her attention.

When Ryan Lamb (James Sutton) moves into the village with his mother Faye (Kim Thomson), it's not long before he's pursuing her.

Speaking to DS at the Inside Soap Awards launch, she said: "I'm quite looking forward to it because it's going to be a relationship where they can get on really well as opposed to bicker and argue, so I think - and I hate the word banter - I think there'll be some banter between them. And James is great and brilliant to work with, so it's going to be really good fun."

Katie is such a useless character why is she still around

JP Liz

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/2535498/Lex-is-on-the-edge.html

Crazed Lexi King stands on the roof of an office block - after snatching Nicola De Souza's baby.
The Emmerdale factory worker, played by Sally Oliver, hovers dangerously close to the edge.

In the dramatic scenes, which will air next month, mum Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) tries desperately to reason with Lexi.

Last month pregnant Lexi lost her baby and was told she'd never be able to have children. After seeing bitchy Nicola struggle with motherhood, Lexi takes matters into her own hands.

gazzer

JP Liz wrote: »

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/2535498/Lex-is-on-the-edge.html

What did you think of this ep which aired last night. I thought it was fantastic tv. It was like watching a play. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole ep.

JP Liz

Emmerdale actress Sally Oliver has made a surprise exit from the soap after two years in the ITV1 show.

Viewers saw Oliver's character Lexi King leave after a showdown on a hospital roof with screen husband Carl, played by Tom Lister.

Lexi had taken her friend Nicola's premature baby after suffering an ectopic pregnancy herself and being told she may never be able to have children.

Despite a dramatic trailer suggesting the scuffle could end in disaster, the episode saw Lexi eventually choose to come down from the roof and walk away.

Filming finished five weeks ago, but Oliver's departure was kept a secret so the outcome of the story was not spoiled.

Oliver, 25, said: "It was very emotional filming my last scenes due to the nature of the storyline, but also because I knew that I was leaving.

"I know everyone always says it about Emmerdale - but that is probably because it is true - everyone gets on fantastically and just wants each other to do well.

"I am going to miss everyone loads but particularly my on-screen family - Kelsey (Scarlett Nicholls), Nicola (Nicola Blackstock), Nick (Jimmy King) and especially Tom (Carl). Tom and I have had so many scenes together.

"He is such a talented, kind and thoughtful man and I am going to miss him loads. I have loved every minute of playing Lexi but just felt the time was right for her to move on."

great episode last night

Deise Tom

Would love to see a few former characters return, Kim Tate, Kathy Bates, Sandy Merick, Sadie King, Tina Dingle etc.

JP Liz

Well well well... Look who's getting married?

Charity Tate makes her much anticipated return to Emmerdale on the 1st October, but who will she wed on the big day?

The blonde bombshell was last seen in the village in March 2005, fleeing the village with her son Noah after getting revenge on Sadie King by having an affair with her husband Jimmy.

But how will daughter Debbie and ex-lover Cain react to seeing her again?



n her explosive first episode, Charity is seen wearing a stunning wedding dress. But the identity of her mystery groom is being kept under wraps, along with details of whether the surprise wedding goes ahead.

Actress Emma Atkins is relishing every moment of reprising her role as Charity Tate. "I am incredibly excited to be continuing her journey and feel privileged to have been asked back," she said.

"It is a new chapter in both my life and Charity’s and I couldn’t wait to start work.”

Charity’s return will shock her daughter Debbie and ex-lover Cain Dingle. Debbie was left heartbroken after begging her mum to stay back in 2005 and has been estranged from Charity ever since.

Gavin Blyth, Series Producer says: "Charity’s dramatic return will have repercussions throughout the village. Viewers are in for a real treat."

From ITV.com

The groom is

Debbie's new man Michael

Deise Tom

JP Liz wrote: »

Well well well... Look who's getting married?

Charity Tate makes her much anticipated return to Emmerdale on the 1st October, but who will she wed on the big day?

The blonde bombshell was last seen in the village in March 2005, fleeing the village with her son Noah after getting revenge on Sadie King by having an affair with her husband Jimmy.

But how will daughter Debbie and ex-lover Cain react to seeing her again?



n her explosive first episode, Charity is seen wearing a stunning wedding dress. But the identity of her mystery groom is being kept under wraps, along with details of whether the surprise wedding goes ahead.

Actress Emma Atkins is relishing every moment of reprising her role as Charity Tate. "I am incredibly excited to be continuing her journey and feel privileged to have been asked back," she said.

"It is a new chapter in both my life and Charity’s and I couldn’t wait to start work.”

Charity’s return will shock her daughter Debbie and ex-lover Cain Dingle. Debbie was left heartbroken after begging her mum to stay back in 2005 and has been estranged from Charity ever since.

Gavin Blyth, Series Producer says: "Charity’s dramatic return will have repercussions throughout the village. Viewers are in for a real treat."

From ITV.com

The groom is

Debbie's new man Michael

I think since Michael came into Emmerdale you could guess there is something up and that he is to marry Charity is no major surprise.

JP Liz

IT'S a family affair when Debbie Dingle realises her secret love rival is actually her mum Charity.

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The sexy mechanic races to the church to stop her two-timing boyfriend Michael Conway from marrying his mystery bride.


But it’s Debbie who’s dumbstruck when she bursts into the church with her dad Cain and sees Michael’s bride-to-be is her mum.


Our insider said: “After getting another beating from Cain, Michael drops the bombshell that he’s getting married.


“A distraught Debbie tries to talk him out of it but he tells her his fiancée is pregnant and he can’t turn his back on his baby.


“On the day of the wedding Debbie can’t bear to just sit back and do nothing so along with Cain she races to the church to try and win Michael back.


“They arrive just as the veiled bride is walking down the aisle. As they burst through the church doors a stunned Michael spins round. But that’s nothing to the shock Debbie receives when she sees who he’s marrying.”


The dramatic scenes see Emma Atkins back in the Dales to play selfish blonde Charity after four years away.


And viewers can expect the fall-out to be huge in what promises to be one of the soap’s biggest storylines of the year.


“Charity’s latest stunt leaves Debbie heartbroken,” said our insider.



“At first she can’t believe it’s her mum at the altar.


“When reality does hit she’s furious. She hasn’t seen her mum in years and then finds out she’s been living nearby all along – and playing happy families with her boyfriend.


“Let’s just say it’s far from a happy family reunion.”

The wedding scenes will be screened on Thursday October 1 on ITV1.

Deise Tom

Could make things interesting if it was learned that debbie is expecting.

She Devil

They better not write michael out of it, He is the only bit of totty in it!

Deise Tom

She Devil wrote: »

They better not write michael out of it, He is the only bit of totty in it!

Thats coz i have not appeared yet.

JP Liz

Deise Tom wrote: »

Could make things interesting if it was learned that debbie is expecting.

Well

Emmerdale stars Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden are expecting their first child together, it was announced today.
Webb, 21, who has played Debbie Dingle in the ITV1 show for nearly seven years, will give birth in the spring.

maybe it will be written into the show

I gotta say Michael looks way too old for Debbie he looks Cain's age

Deise Tom

JP Liz wrote: »

Well



maybe it will be written into the show

I gotta say Michael looks way too old for Debbie he looks Cain's age

When does age come into it, when money might be involved.

Epicurus

Emmerdale stars Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden are expecting their first child together, it was announced today.
Webb, 21, who has played Debbie Dingle in the ITV1 show for nearly seven years, will give birth in the spring.

JP Liz wrote: »

maybe it will be written into the show

Debbie being pregnant or are they going to go the whole hog and have a one night stand between herself and David occur.

JP Liz

Well Charity is not pregnant and is dumped by Michael and he also have left Debbie so it would make a better storyline to have Debbie fall pregnant by him.

In the show Debbie and David dont even interact in any scenes i doubt she's sleep with him. The were rumblings of Scott Windsor returning and getting back with Debbie or her and Andy getting back together.

Epicurus

Emmerdale's Laurel Thomas is left fighting for her life next month when an unstable Sally Spode sets fire to the church with her love rival still inside.
According to the Daily Star, Sally - played by 44-year-old Siân Reeves - continues in her attempts to become Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) and re-establish herself in Ashley Thomas's (John Middleton) life.
Over the last few weeks, Laurel and Ashley have been forced to deal with Sally's over-bearing nature and underhand attempts to rekindle her teen romance with Ashley.
Events, however, takes a shock twist when Sally sets the church alight knowing that Laurel is trapped inside. The fire and ensuing carnage are claimed to be some of the soap's best scenes of the year.
An Emmerdale insider told the newspaper: "What most viewers won't know is that Charlotte Bellamy was heavily pregnant when we filmed the scenes.
"She was crawling across the floor with six foot flames burning around her all the while trying to hide her baby bump."
They added: "Charlotte didn't let anything get in her way and the scenes look absolutely amazing."
The scenes are due to air in mid-November.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/playlist/view/101513/EMMERDALE-Hell-fire-of-Vicar/

Havent we had this before with Zoe?

Madame Razz

Whats the deal with this Sally character?? Apart from being the most annoying Emmerdale character of all time???

JP Liz

Emmerdale actor Maxwell Caulfield is to leave the Yorkshire soap in the New Year, it has been announced.

The 49-year-old, who plays bigamist Mark Wylde, will bow out of the show in the early part of January when his character's shady past catches up with him, sending shockwaves through the village.

Caulfield said of his decision to leave: "I can't believe how fast my year in beautiful Yorkshire has flown by! But there was only so long Mark could keep those two women on the boil before he was the one getting burned! I'm confident the viewers will find this story gripping to the very end. Emmerdale is in great shape and I'll miss them all."

He took the decision not to renew his contract upon the expiry of his original 12-month deal. However, the remainder of his screen relatives, including Kim Thomson (Faye Lamb) and Amanda Donohoe (Natasha Wylde), have all signed new contracts with the ITV serial.

Series producer Gavin Blyth said: "The highly-anticipated departure of Mark Wylde has given us scope for a fantastic exit storyline over the winter months that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats."

Of the final chapter in Mark's tale, Blyth teased: "We could see history repeated and Mark ditch the dales for a brand new life. Or will he keep his promise and leave the village with ex-flame Faye? Perhaps a twist will ensue and Natasha will get her man for keeps, or could something far more sinister rid Mark of his demons forever?

"This is the final act to be played out for Mark Wylde and it’s guaranteed to be as unpredictable and explosive as when any major character leaves Emmerdale."

Speaking of Caulfield's decision to leave, he added: "Maxwell has been a true asset to Emmerdale and a highly valued member of our cast. We are indebted to him for his passion and commitment to the show over the past year and he will be greatly missed by the production team and viewers alike."

Caulfield is due to finish filming at the soap's home in Leeds next month and will remain on screen until the second week of January.

good riddance cant act i hope he takes his family with him

JP Liz

Eli Dingle is leaving also

Deise Tom

JP Liz wrote: »

Eli Dingle is leaving also

I bet another one will come in.

kerry4sam

Madame Razz wrote: »

Whats the deal with this Sally character?? Apart from being the most annoying Emmerdale character of all time???

A friend has me watching this lately and I'm curious what the story is with this character...how long more before she is caught out and the full truth is revealed? Does anyone know any more of her future storylines?

JP Liz

Aaron kisses Adam

Maisie kisses half brother Ryan

JP Liz

Madame Razz wrote: »

Whats the deal with this Sally character?? Apart from being the most annoying Emmerdale character of all time???

Sally is a bunny boiler who used to date Ashley and wants him again now

Deise Tom

JP Liz wrote: »

Aaron kisses Adam

Maisie kisses half brother Ryan

For such a small place, there is too much of this carry on going on in the village. How many is that now that are gay, or have had some sort of same sex relation, and it should be enough that the Dingles are beding their own relations without others doing likewise.

JP Liz

Charity proposes to Cain at Christmas

Deise Tom

JP Liz wrote: »

Charity proposes to Cain at Christmas

I wonder does it have anything to do with money.

JP Liz

Deise Tom wrote: »

I wonder does it have anything to do with money.

She wants both him and the cash

angel1001

JP Liz wrote: »

Aaron kisses Adam

Maisie kisses half brother Ryan

thought he was mad for katie....anyone know when the sally storyline is due to end????

Madame Razz

JP Liz wrote: »

Eli Dingle is leaving also

Well that's no bloody harm:p

JP Liz

Emmerdale bigamist Mark Wylde is to be murdered in a shock storyline twist, show producers have announced.

The businessman, played by actor Maxwell Caulfield, will meet a grisly end in an hour-long episode which is to be screened on January 14.

Caulfield announced his decision to quit the rural soap last November, but details of his exit had remained a secret until now.

A number of the programme's characters have motives for murder, but fans will not discover who the killer is until the dramatic instalment is screened next week.

Mark's partner Natasha (Amanda Donohoe) is likely to be seen as one potential culprit in the run-up to the tragedy. Next week, she will discover that Mark has been cheating on her with first wife Faye Lamb, played by Kim Thomson.

Faye herself may decide to get revenge for the way she has been treated by Mark in the past, while one of the love cheat's children Ryan (James Sutton), Maisie (Alice Coulthard) or Nathan (Lyndon Ogbourne) could teach him a lesson after having their own lives affected by his behaviour.

Speaking of his one-year stint on the show, Caulfield commented: "It's been one of the best experiences of my career and I've had the opportunity to work with the loveliest group of people. To have the privilege of working with two knockout actresses on a daily basis made Mark really fun to play."

Caulfield recently revealed that he would now like to play a Bond villain or secure a role on The Bill.

JP Liz

In two weeks time, viewers will be treated to the dramatic culmination of the Sally/Ashley/Laurel love triangle, when troubled Sally takes her love for married priest Ashley one step too far.

After hearing that Ashley (played by John Middleton) is planning to leave the village with daughter Gabby to be closer to wife Laurel in a bid to try and get their relationship back on track, Sally (Sian Reeves) tries to stop him.

However, as is the norm in Emmerdale, nothing goes to plan and Sally ends up throwing herself in front of Ashley's car in a last-ditch attempt to get him to listen to her.

Despite trying to stop, Ashley hits Sally, knocking her unconscious and leaving her bloodied on the road.

Ashley immediately calls an ambulance and Sally is rushed to hospital.

But when they arrive, police start to question Ashley - believing he may have had a more intricate role in the accident than they first thought.

And they are made further suspicious when Sally wakes up and starts telling lies about her relationship with priest Ashley.

What will happen to Sally? Will Ashley and Laurel's marriage survive this latest incident?

The dramatic episode will be shown on ITV1 on Tuesday January 19 at 7pm.

JP Liz

So Natasha killed Mark - terrible acting from all involved

lmahoney79

Agreed!

Max Headroom

lmahoney79 wrote: »

Agreed!

Worst actor ever in a soap.....and people slag off Fair City...:rolleyes:

Deise Tom

JP Liz wrote: »

So Natasha killed Mark - terrible acting from all involved

Maybe not amd even if she did, I reckon she will get away with it as she has the letter saying that he was going to shoot himself. I think she will find him before anyone else will and will claim she brought back the fun to Home farm with panic.

Why hasnt Sam found him. Is he working at all.

JP Liz V1

Former Hear'Say star Suzanne Shaw has been cast in ITV soap Emmerdale.

The ex-pop singer, who has established a successful theatre career in recent years, is to play Edna Birch's (Shirley Stelfox) "feisty and flirtatious" granddaughter Eve on the long-running programme.

Shaw first found fame by appearing on ITV1 reality competition Popstars in 2001. The show saw her winning a place in the band Hear'Say, who remained active for nearly two years.

More recently, the 28-year-old has triumphed on Dancing On Ice and starred in a number of West End musicals, including Chicago, Summer Holiday, The Rocky Horror Show and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Speaking of her new role, Shaw commented: "I am so excited to be joining the cast of such a popular and long-standing show. It's quite daunting to think I'll be watched by millions of people every night, but I can't wait to get stuck in to country life! Eve is going to be such a fun character to play, she's a real flirt and her arrival is definitely going to cause fireworks."

Emmerdale's series producer Gavin Blyth added: "We are delighted to welcome Suzanne to the cast. Viewers can look forward to some explosive storylines as Eve cranks up the heat in the village and attracts her fair share of male attention!"

Shaw's former Hear'Say bandmate Kym Marsh has been a cast member in ITV1's Coronation Street for nearly four years, playing the role of barmaid Michelle Connor.

The actress will begin filming at the Yorkshire-based programme next month and be seen on screen for the first time in April.

Lillylilly

Max Headroom wrote: »

Worst actor ever in a soap.....and people slag off Fair City...:rolleyes:

That Maisie one wins the prize for the worst actress ever! She seems to shout and cry every line!!!!

Deise Tom

Lillylilly wrote: »

That Maisie one wins the prize for the worst actress ever! She seems to shout and cry every line!!!!

Just doing what she can with the lines given.

JP Liz V1

When is Debbie leaving it must be soon her bump is very noticeable

I cant stand any of the Wylde children especially bratty Nathan and Maisie

JP Liz V1

Alex Carter has quit Emmerdale after four years in the role of Jamie Hope, Digital Spy can confirm.

The 27-year-old will bow out from the Yorkshire-based soap later this year in order to pursue new projects.

Carter first revealed the news in an interview with Shaun Keaveny on BBC 6 Music and went on to make a number of light-hearted remarks over his character's current contribution to the programme.

He joked: "I'm getting thoroughly depressed because I'm in work every day for about four hours. It's like they're teasing me because I'm leaving and I've got one line. I'm in work every day. It's driving me mental.

"I can't even go off and meet people and talk about being King Rat in Skegness or anything like that. I can't even plan my future! They've got me by the balls."

Meanwhile, asked how Jamie will depart, Carter replied: "Why spoil the habit of my character's lifetime? It's nothing interesting - I think I just go in a cab."

An Emmerdale spokesperson this afternoon told DS: "We can confirm that after four years on the show, Alex Carter has decided to leave Emmerdale. He's been a great asset to the show and we wish him all the very best for the future."

Carter joined ITV's rural soap in November 2005 and first appeared as the local postman on February 16, 2006.

Epicurus

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Alex Carter has quit Emmerdale after four years in the role of Jamie Hope, Digital Spy can confirm.

Carter first revealed the news in an interview with Shaun Keaveny on BBC 6 Music and went on to make a number of light-hearted remarks over his character's current contribution to the programme.

Can listen to that interview here. Go forward to about 2.18

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/b0072l9k/Friday/console/

JP Liz V1

Former Cutting It star Jason Merrells has joined the cast of ITV soap Emmerdale.

The actor, best known for his role as stylist Gavin Ferraday on the BBC drama, has signed up to play a handsome business tycoon named Declan who becomes entangled in the life of murderess Natasha Wylde (Amanda Donohoe).

Declan will first appear on screen in April and be seen acquiring a stake of the village's Home Farm estate after a cash-strapped Natasha searches for investors.

The newcomer's involvement with Natasha will take a further twist, however, as viewers are left to wonder whether the newly-single businesswoman is looking for more than just a financial saviour.

Speaking of his new role, Merrells commented: "I'm thrilled to be joining a show as respected and well-loved as Emmerdale and look forward to filming my first scenes later this month. Declan's an enigmatic mogul who is bound to raise a few eyebrows in the village."

Emmerdale's series producer Gavin Blyth added: "I'm delighted to be welcoming Jason to the cast. He is an extremely talented actor and will be brilliant in the role of Declan. Jason's role will continue to take the show forward in this very exciting time for Emmerdale."

JP Liz V1

Former Hollyoaks actor Marc Silcock has joined the ranks of Emmerdale, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The 21-year-old - who portrayed schizophrenic Newt's imaginary alter-ego Eli on and off between 2008 and 2009 - takes on the role of Jackson Walsh, a potential new love interest for sexually confused mechanic Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller).

At the end of last year, Aaron's world was thrown into turmoil when he made a pass at his best friend Adam Barton (Adam Thomas) following a car accident. With villagers gossiping about his true sexuality, Aaron was forced to try to cover his tracks and embarked on a relationship with Adam's sister Holly (Sophie Powles).

In the coming weeks, though, Aaron panics when his cover story Holly ends their relationship. On a night out with Eli (Joseph Gilgun), Aaron is tempted to visit a gay bar. When he eventually plucks up the courage to go inside, he's taken aback when Jackson takes an interest in him.

Speaking of Jackson's arrival in the village, Emmerdale series producer Gavin Blyth told DS: "Like Aaron, Jackson's a very contemporary gay character - he's not a stereotype. He's someone who exists in his own right in the world because of who he is - not what he is in terms of his sexuality. We've got to realise that for everything that Aaron's fighting, if he's ever going to let anyone in, it's going to be someone he can relate to.

"I also stated from the outset that I wanted Aaron's tale to be a very modern story of someone not only wrestling with their sexuality but also loathing himself at times for it and (wrongly) fearing other people judging him. If we're to play a relationship of any sense as Aaron moves forward, I want it to be a very real one, not based on clichés or stereotypes."

He continued: "And as, when and if the relationship goes anywhere, it's paramount that both characters can ultimately continue to drive the story beyond that of their sexuality."

Meanwhile, speaking of his casting, Silcock said: "I've always been a fan of Emmerdale, so I'm thrilled to be joining the cast. Jackson will play a big part in Aaron's journey and I'm so pleased to be involved in this story."

She Devil

I wonder who posted the flowers in the thomas' letterbox? Is sally back?

Is Debbie leaving for good?

JP Liz V1

Yes Sally is back

Debbie is leaving for maternity leave only she will be back