Emmerdale - 22/12/2025 - 8:30 pm Monday, December 22 on ITV1 London +1

Danny Miller (Actor) .. Aaron Dingle

Born: January 02, 1991 in Bredbury, Stockport

Best Known For: Playing Aaron Livesy in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Daniel Benedict Miller was born in Bredbury, Stockport, on January 2, 1991 to Vincent and Andrea. He has a brother, Paul, and a sister, Lucy. Miller's first major acting role came in 2007 when he played Kyle Brown in BBC children's drama Grange Hill.

Career: Miller's big break came in 2008 when he was cast as Aaron Livesy in Emmerdale. After leaving the soap in 2012, he appeared in panto and landed roles in ITV drama Lightfields and BBC drama Jamaica Inn. He also had a recurring role on Scott & Bailey. In 2014, he returned to Emmerdale.

Quote: On his return to Emmerdale: "It was like I'd been on holiday and come back."

Trivia: Miller has won a number of soap awards.

Rebecca Bakes (Actor) .. Angelica King

Amelia Flanagan (Actor) .. April Windsor

Kai Assi (Actor) .. Archie Breckle

Alfie Clarke (Actor) .. Arthur Thomas

Joshua Richards (Actor) .. Bear Wolf

Eden Taylor-Draper (Actor) .. Belle King

Jay Kontzle (Actor) .. Billy Fletcher

Tony Audenshaw (Actor) .. Bob Hope

Best Known For: Playing Bob Hope in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Antony Audenshaw was born in Denton near Manchester in 1964. Tony had small roles in Raining Stones (1993), Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement, Hillsborough, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Where The Heart Is, Heartbeat and Peak Practice before landing the role that made him famous in Emmerdale.

Career: Audenshaw joined the long-running soap in 2000 as Bob Hope, a love interest of Viv Windsor. Bob proposed to Viv while drunk and they married in 2001. They divorced four years later after Viv had an affair with Paddy Kirk but they reconciled and married for a second time in 2006. Bob had his hands full when Viv gave birth to twins and was left holding the babies when she was sentenced to three years in prison for fraud. He tried to run the café and post office as well as work shifts in the Woolpack and raise the twins on his own. He was shocked when Viv was suddenly released from prison, but they eventually come to the realisation that they were no longer compatible. The current love of Bob's life is Brenda Walker.

Quote: On running in fancy dress: "You get great enjoyment from wearing a costume if you are not going for a time."

Trivia: Audenshaw has run a number of marathons in fancy dress for the charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. He is also the lead singer of a band called White Van Man.

Jeff Hordley (Actor) .. Cain Dingle

Born: March 07, 1970 in Crumpsall, Manchester

Best Known For: Playing Cain Dingle in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Jeffrey Thomas Percy was born on March 7, 1970. He grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, where he attended North Chadderton Comprehensive, before going on to gain a BA (Hons) Theatre Arts (Acting) degree from Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre in 1997.

Career: Hordley is best known for his portrayal of Cain Dingle in Emmerdale. He has played the recurrent role since 2000. During his breaks from the show, he has appeared in a number of pantomimes and played the role of Mick in Harold Pinter's 1960 play The Caretaker when it was staged at Bolton's Octagon Theatre in 2009.

Quote: "I was linked to the part of Sirius Black in the Harry Potter film. I wish it were true but, unfortunately, that's rubbish."

Trivia: He married his college sweetheart Zoe Henry in 2003. She stars alongside Hordley in Emmerdale as vet Rhona Goskirk.

William Ash (Actor) .. Caleb Miligan

Charlie Joyce (Actor) .. Carl Holliday

Gabrielle Dowling (Actor) .. Cathy Hope

Jaye Griffiths (Actor) .. Celia Daniels

Born: September 24, 1963 in London

Best Known For: Playing Elle Gardner in Casualty.

Early-life: Born on September 24, 1963 in London. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1987, she played Maria in the television mini-series A Killing on the Exchange.

Career: Griffiths has appeared in a large number of TV shows, particularly hospital and police dramas. Her roles have included playing Elle Gardner in Casualty, Sally Johnson in The Bill, Doctor Elizabeth Croft in Doctors and Helen Marlowe in Criminal Justice. She has also played police officers in Coronation Street and Eastenders. Besides these roles, she starred as Ros Henderson in the science fiction series Bugs and played Jac in Doctor Who.

Quote: [On medical procedures]: "Please don't take this the wrong way but I love it. I love watching operations. I could watch them all day."

Trivia: Before she became an actress, she wanted to be a firefighter.

Emma Atkins (Actor) .. Charity Dingle

Born: March 31, 1975 in Morecambe

Best Known For: Playing Charity in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born in Morecambe on March 31, 1975, Emma is a former student of Salford University. While at university, she landed the role that made her famous, Charity Tate in Emmerdale.

Career: Atkins made her first screen appearance as Charity in March 2000. Her character has been involved in a number of high-profile storylines, such as her lesbian affair with Zoe Tate, the arrival of her long-lost daughter Debbie, being framed by Chris Tate for his death, giving birth to Noah and her break-up with Tom King, which led to her leaving the soap in 2005. During her break from the soap, Atkins made guest appearances in Dalziel and Pascoe, Mayo, New Street Law, I'm with Stupid, Casualty, Heartbeat and Doctors. She also appeared on stage in a touring version of The Play What I Wrote, an open air run of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Stafford Castle, the West End show Stop Messing About, and the pantomime Dick Whittington at Stafford Gatehouse. She returned to Emmerdale in 2009.

Quote: "It's much better fun to play a bitch than a goodie-two-shoes."

Trivia: In 2005, Atkins won the Best Soap Actress gong at the TV Quick Awards. When she is not acting, Emma is a keen photographer.

Kevin Mathurin (Actor) .. Charles Anderson

Lucy Pargeter (Actor) .. Chas Dingle

Born: September 01, 1977 in Nottingham

Best Known For: Playing Chas Dingle in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Lucy was born in Nottingham on September 1, 1977, and was trained at the Central Junior Television Workshop. She used to be a member of the band Paper Dolls, which toured with Boyzone in the early 1990s.

Career: Lucy's first screen role was in the TV Movie The Bare Necessities in 1996. She went on to appear in Soldier Soldier, Peaches and Dalziel and Pascoe. She played Helen Raven in Crossroads from 2002 to 2003, before landing the role of Chastity ‘Chas' Dingle in Emmerdale, where she has remained ever since. In 2006, she appeared in singing competition Soapstar Superstar, finishing in third place. In November 2013, she was a contestant on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!

Quote: "I don't watch soaps. I don't watch any of them. I just don't have time and when I get home from work it's not so that I can sit down and watch other soaps. It's 'off time'. I have to learn lines, get my daughter Lola off to bed, make dinner, stuff like that."

Trivia: She once performed in Stars in Their Eyes as Emma Bunton.

Flo Wilson (Actor) .. Claudette Anderson

Olivia Bromley (Actor) .. Dawn Fletcher

Tilly Rue Foster (Actor) .. Dotty Thomas

Fred Kettle (Actor) .. Dylan Penders

Luca Hoyle (Actor) .. Elliot Windsor

Christopher Chittell (Actor) .. Eric Pollard

Born: May 19, 1948 in Aldershot

Best Known For: Playing Eric Pollard in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born Christopher John Chittell in Aldershot on May 19, 1948. His father served in the Indian Army. Christopher's first acting role was at the age of 19 in the film To Sir, with Love (1967). The following year he appeared as a Trooper in The Charge of the Light Brigade.

Career: The jobbing actor went on to have small roles on TV in Look and Read, Freewheelers, Paul Temple, Harriet's Back in Town, Man About the House, The Tomorrow People and Tucker's Luck. In the early 1980s, Chittell was a struggling actor, living in a mobile home with his wife and running a gift shop in Devon to try to make ends meet. He often had to hitchhike part of his way to auditions. All that changed in 1986 when he was cast a loveable rogue Eric Pollard in Emmerdale. He has been on the show ever since and is the longest serving cast member.

Quote: "I get out and exercise, eat well and enjoy an odd glass or two of affordable wine when I can."

Trivia: He spends a lot of his free time running marathons to raise money for charity.

Bella James (Actor) .. Eve Dingle

Malachi McKenzie (Actor) .. Evan Fletcher

Eden Ratcliffe-Knights (Actor) .. Frankie Robinson

Rosie Bentham (Actor) .. Gabby Thomas

Adam Pryor (Actor) .. Harry Sugden

Bobby Dunsmuir (Actor) .. Isaac Dingle

Margot Rose Dalley (Actor) .. Ivy Malcolms

Joe-Warren Plant (Actor) .. Jacob Gallagher

Christopher Bisson (Actor) .. Jai Sharma

Born: July 21, 1975 in Wythenshawe, Manchester

Best Known For: Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Early-life: Christopher Paul Bisson was born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on July 21, 1975. His parents are from Trinidad. His first acting break came as a teenager when he was cast as JJ in Children's Ward.

Career: Bisson went on to star in TV movie Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgement and an episode of crime drama The Cops. In 1999, he made his movie debut in East is East (1999) and his first appearance as Vikram Desai in Coronation Street. He stayed in Weatherfield until December 2002. His other TV credits include a recurring part in Shameless and guest roles on Holby City, Where the Heart Is, New Street Law and Casualty. In 2009, he joined the cast of Emmerdale, playing Jai Sharma, a role he continues to play.

Quote: On his Emmerdale character: "I'm just glad that my real life story hasn't been anywhere near as trying as the one I've been portraying on screen."

Trivia: He appeared in the second series of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Nick Miles (Actor) .. Jimmy King

Best Known For: Playing Jimmy King in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Nick was born in Birmingham in 1962. He made his TV acting debut in a 1994 episode of BBC comedy All Quiet on the Preston Front. Roles followed in Dandelion Dead, Ladybird Ladybird, Prime Suspect: The Scent of Darkness and Soldier Soldier.

Career: Miles made guest appearances in Harbour Lights, Casualty, Peak Practice and Silent Witness, and had recurring roles in Backup and The Bill. He made his film debut in Gangs of New York (2002). Since 2004, he has played businessman Jimmy King in Emmerdale. In 2006, he appeared alongside Steve North in the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe show Meeting Joe Strummer.

Quote: On Emmerdale: "One of the nicest things about the job is working with cast members from the past."

Trivia: In 1998, he appeared as a policeman in a music video for Embrace's Come Back to What You Know.

Ned Porteous (Actor) .. Joe Tate

Oliver Farnworth (Actor) .. John Sugden

Jack Jennings (Actor) .. Johnny Woodfield

Shebz Miah (Actor) .. Kammy Hadiq

Laura Norton (Actor) .. Kerry Wyatt

Born: June 19, 1983 in Hazlerigg, Newcastle upon Tyne

Best Known For: Playing Kerry Wyatt in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Laura was born in Hazlerigg, Newcastle upon Tyne, on June 19, 1983. Her first taste of acting came at the age of 14 in a play at the Live Theatre in Newcastle. After completing performing arts courses at North Tyneside College, Laura landed her first major stage role in Keepers of the Flame, a project that was a partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Live Theatre.

Career: Norton continued to work extensively on the stage and began picking up guest roles in a number of TV shows, including Byker Grove, 55 Degrees North, Steel River Blues, The Royal Today and Vera. Her big break came in 2012, when she landed the role of Kerry Wyatt on Emmerdale, a character she continues to play.

Quote: On her Emmerdale character: "She's complicated, vulnerable and childlike."

Trivia: Norton was nominated in the best newcomer category at the 2013 British Soap Awards.

Christopher Coghill (Actor) .. Kev Townsend

Claire King (Actor) .. Kim Tate

Born: January 10, 1963 in Harrogate

Best Known For: Playing Kim Tate in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born Claire Seed in Harrogate on January 10, 1963, but changed her name in honour of her idol, Elvis Presley. She hated school, left home at 17, dyed her hair blue and toured Holland with the band To Be Continued. While dating Geoff Cobalt Stargazer from Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction, she appeared in the band's video. The director, Young Ones star Ade Edmondson, was so impressed by Claire he employed her again for an Elvis Costello video. She then trained for a year at the Actor's Institute.

Career: King appeared in Alas Smith and Jones, a Robbie Coltrane Special, Hale and Pace and the sitcom Babes in the Wood, but is still best known for her role in Emmerdale, where she spent 10 years playing Kim Tate. After leaving the soap in 1999, she took time off to concentrate on her horse-racing syndicate. Her TV credits include a recurring role on Bad Girls and guest appearances in Dalziel and Pascoe, Hollyoaks, Holby City, The Royal and Casualty. She finished sixth in the 2006 series of Strictly Come Dancing. In the summer of 2014, she entered the Celebrity Big Brother house, but left on day 14 to receive medical attention. King has also joined Coronation Street, playing Liz McDonald's friend Erika Simmonds.

Quote: "I'm not a big fan of soaps. I think there's total soap overkill at the moment."

Trivia: She has appeared in a number of pantomimes.

Huey Quinn (Actor) .. Kyle Winchester

Charlotte Bellamy (Actor) .. Laurel Thomas

Best Known For: Playing Laurel in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born in Dover in 1973, Charlotte graduated in 1993 from Middlesex University with a degree in performing arts. Her earliest acting credit is a guest role in A Touch of Frost in 1996.

Career: Bellamy went on to play a short recurring role in EastEnders, various parts in The Bill, and roles in Tess of the D'Urbervilles, The Broker's Man, Casualty, and Wing and a Prayer. Her big break came in September 2002 when she made her first appearance as Laurel in Emmerdale.

Quote: "I'm so emotionally connected to Laurel, I couldn't bear the thought of not being her anymore."

Trivia: Bellamy won a TV Quick Award for best soap actress in 2008.

Harvey Rogerson (Actor) .. Leo Goskirk

Bradley Riches (Actor) .. Lewis Barton

Jonny McPherson (Actor) .. Liam Cavanagh

Karen Blick (Actor) .. Lydia Dingle

Lawrence Robb (Actor) .. Mackenzie Boyd

Lisa Riley (Actor) .. Mandy Dingle

Born: August 05, 1976 in Bury

Best Known For: Playing Mandy in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born Lisa Jane Riley on June 13, 1976, in Bury, Lancashire. She had a largely happy childhood thanks to loving parents Terry and Cath. She prides herself on her down-to-earth attitude. Decided at a young age she wanted to act, and gained experience at the Oldham Theatre Workshop, where she trained alongside Jane Danson, now better known for her roles in Coronation Street and A&E. Riley appeared in many of the group's productions before turning professional.

Career: Made her TV debut with an impressive performance in Blood and Peaches, following it up with the equally acclaimed Flight and Butterfly Kiss. Her big break came when she landed the role of Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale in 1995. Initially lined up to appear in just two episodes, her popularity prompted the soap's bosses to offer her a regular stint. After picking up numerous awards, she decided to leave in 2001. She took over from Jeremy Beadle as host of You've Been Framed in 1998. She's since appeared in Put Out More Fags, Secret Society, Aladdin, Scott & Bailey and Waterloo Road. She's most proud of her role in Fat Friends, which she calls "serious acting". On stage, she has appeared in a number of pantomimes and in UK tours of The Vagina Monologues and Calendar Girls. In 2012, she partnered professional dancer Robin Windsor in Strictly Come Dancing.

Quote: "I've always had this confidence."

Trivia: Won Best Newcomer Award at the 1997 National Television Awards.

Rebecca Sarker (Actor) .. Manpreet Sharma

Mark Charnock (Actor) .. Marlon Dingle

Born: March 23, 1968 in Bolton

Best Known For: Playing Marlon Dingle in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born in Bolton, Lancashire, on March 23, 1968, Mark was educated at Canon Slade School. He won a place at Hull University, but gave up his degree to pursue a career in acting, going on to join the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

Career: Mark's first screen role was in an episode of 2point4 Children, and he had a bit part in Coronation Street before he found fame in Emmerdale. Prior to landing the role of Marlon, he starred alongside Derek Jacobi as the bumbling Brother Oswin in Cadfael. He first appeared in the Yorkshire-based soap in 1996 and has since gone on to become one of its most popular characters. He won a British Soap Award in 2004.

Quote: "I'm lucky really. I play a character than gets a lot of comedy and I also, every now and then, get some great drama. So my artistic thirst is quenched by the show. But I never plan beyond the next contract. It's presumptuous."

Trivia: Mark and actor Dale Meeks appeared as the Blues Brothers in Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes and they won.

Louise Jameson (Actor) .. Mary Goskirk

Born: April 20, 1951 in London

Best Known For: EastEnders, Doctor Who, Bergerac and Tenko.

Early-life: Louise was born in London on April 20, 1951. She trained at Rada and went on to spend two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Early TV credits included Z Cars, Emmerdale and Space: 1999 but her big break came in 1977 when she was cast as Leela, the leather-clad barbarian warrior companion of the fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) in Doctor Who.

Career: In the early 1980s, Jameson had a lead role in the first two series of popular BBC drama Tenko. She went on star in Bergerac as Jim Bergerac's girlfriend for five years. In 1998 she began an association with EastEnders that ran to more than 200 episodes as Rosa di Marco. More recently she has appeared in River City, Doc Martin, Doctors and Holby City. When she is not gracing the small screen, she can usually be found on the stage.

Quote: "When I was Leela I was surprised I became a sex symbol. I thought Doctor Who was just a children's show."

Trivia: In 2007, Jameson toured her one-woman show, Face Value.

Ash Palmisciano (Actor) .. Matty Barton

Natalie J Robb (Actor) .. Moira Dingle

Born: December 03, 1974 in Belshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Best Known For: Playing Moira Barton in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Natalie Joy Robb was born on December 3, 1974 in Belshill, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. She went to weekend drama groups in Glasgow and later attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Her acting career started while she was a child, after director Alan Macmillan discovered her at her weekend drama groups. Natalie won the BBC Young Entertainer of the Year award at age 13.

Career: Robb has had roles in a number of continuing TV dramas, including Take the High Road in the early 1990s and one season of Dream Team. She played Jude Carlyle in Doctors for three years before leaving to join the cast of The Bill as Andrea Dunbar. After that, she appeared in New Tricks, EastEnders and Waterloo Road before joining the cast of Emmerdale as Moira Barton.

Quote: On moving to London to pursue acting: "I looked up to the sky to ask the universe and thought I'm going to do this and follow this dream and if it doesn't work, it doesn't work but, back me up, will you?"

Trivia: When she moved to London to pursue acting, she slept in her car for the first couple of weeks.

Arthur Cockroft (Actor) .. Moses Dingle

Nicola Wheeler (Actor) .. Nicola King

Born: April 04, 1974 in Nottingham

Best Known For: Switching from Coronation Street to Emmerdale.

Early-life: She was born Nicola Hodge in Nottingham on April 4, 1974, but raised with the name Nicola Palmer. Becoming an actress meant Nicola then had to change Palmer as her last name, due to there already being an actress with the same name.

Career: Nicola's first screen role was on Coronation Street as Melanie Tindel, who famously did the dirty on best pal Maxine. She became one of soap's few successful crossover stars when she joined Emmerdale as Nicola Blackstock in 2000 and served for five years, before returning in 2007 as Nicola De Souza. She won the 2006 British Soap Award for Best Bitch. Nicola appeared on the Sky1 reality show Cirque de Celebrite but was voted out on the fifth week by Blazin' Squad member Kenzie.

Quote: "She (Nicola) comes up with these plans but never properly thinks things through."

Trivia: She has appeared in pantomime as the Wicked Witch.

Jack Downham (Actor) .. Noah Dingle

Dominic Brunt (Actor) .. Paddy Dingle

Born: April 15, 1970 in Macclesfield

Best Known For: Playing Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born in Macclesfield on April 15, 1970, Dominic was a welder for three and a half years before he started studying acting at college and then at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. Early TV appearances included roles in The Bill, 2point4 Children, Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's Twelve Angry Men, Soldier Soldier, Inspector Morse, and Holding On.

Career: Brunt made his Emmerdale debut in 1997 when Paddy began working as a locum for Zoe Tate at the vet surgery. Paddy's first romance was with Mandy Dingle and they eventually got married. When the marriage fell apart, Paddy became close to Emily Dingle and they ended up getting married. When that reunion lost its passion, Paddy embarked on an affair with his wife's boss, Viv Windsor. Paddy went on to have various relationships with different women in the village until he married Rhona Goskirk, a union that didn't take long to hit the rocks. Away from Emmerdale, Dominic teamed up with Mark Charnock in 2007 for Soapstar Superchef, and directed and starred in horror movie Before Dawn (2012).

Quote: On Emmerdale: "I'd be mad to leave it. When I go, it'll be kicking and screaming and they'll have to ask me to go."

Trivia: In 2008, he co-founded the annual Zombie Film Festival in Leeds with Mark Charnock.

Joe Absolom (Actor) .. Ray Walters

Born: December 16, 1978 in London

Best Known For: Playing Matthew Rose in EastEnders, and Al in Doc Martin.

Early-life: Born December 16, 1978, in London. He has an older brother, Dan, and younger sister, Cassie. After appearing in a school play as a runner bean at the age of 10, he took up acting professionally. His father sent photos of his three children to an agency just for fun, but Joe became hooked on treading the boards. His first TV appearance came in an advert for peanut butter. More commercials followed.

Career: Absolom made his drama debut in 1991's Antonia and Jane, and hasn't looked back since. He worked consistently throughout his teens - by the time he was 18, he had appeared on TV in the likes of The Bill, Silent Witness and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Touching Evil and Dangerfield followed, but he didn't become a famous face until he starred in EastEnders. He left in 2000 after three years in the soap. Since then he's starred in Extreme Ops, Stan the Man, Unconditional Love, Servants and PoW. He also has a regular role in ITV's comedy drama Doc Martin and featured alongside Kevin Costner and fellow ex-Walford resident Michael Greco in the Western series Hatfields and McCoys.

Quote: "Acting's not a career I contemplated. I thought I'd go to university and spend three years drunk, then try to start to live properly."

Trivia: In 2010, Absolom won a celebrity version of Total Wipeout, winning £10,000 for charity.

Zoe Henry (Actor) .. Rhona Goskirk

Born: September 03, 1973 in England

Best Known For: Playing Rhona in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Zoe was born on September 3, 1973. She studied for an acting degree at the Manchester Metropolitan University School of Television & Theatre. She won the Manchester Evening News Best Actress award in 2002 for playing Eliza Doolittle in her university's production of Pygmalion. Her first TV credit was a small part in an episode of Cold Feet in 1998.

Career: In 2001, Henry secured the role of new vet Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale. She played the character for a month before returning for eight months in 2002. After leaving Emmerdale, Henry had roles in the likes of A Touch of Frost, Conviction, Holby City, Coronation Street, Doctors, The Bill, Casualty, New Tricks and EastEnders. She returned to Emmerdale in 2010. Henry is married to Emmerdale co-star Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain Dingle.

Quote: "It's fab to be working alongside Jeff. I thought it would be a bit weird for him, but he's been so cool about the whole thing."

Trivia: Henry worked as a care worker while training to be an actress.

Ryan Hawley (Actor) .. Robert Sugden

Patrick Mower (Actor) .. Rodney Blackstock

Born: September 12, 1938 in Oxford

Best Known For: Playing Rodney Blackstock in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born Patrick Archibald Shaw on September 12, 1938, in Oxford, he was one of three sons to a Welsh father and English mother. He later discovered he had three half-sisters from his dad's previous marriage. After training as a draughtsman, he caught the acting bug and honed his craft at Rada. He changed his surname to Mower and by the 1960s became a regular face on TV in offerings such as Swizzlewick, Mary Barton, Front Page Story and The Avengers. Detective series Callan and Special Branch also boosted his profile.

Career: Mower appeared in assorted movies, including Incense for the Damned, and The Devil Rides Out. His role as DS Steve Hackett in police series Target made him one of Britain's biggest sex symbols of the 1970s. He also featured in a host of cult shows, including Jason King, UFO, The Protectors, Space: 1999, The Sweeney, Minder and Tales of the Unexpected. He was also a regular panellist on the popular ITV game show Whodunnit. Mower joined the cast of Emmerdale in October 2000, as wheeler-dealer Rodney Blackstock, and has remained with the show ever since.

Quote: "I am a Virgo and the only fault Virgos have is that they are always right."

Trivia: He featured in one of the last Carry On films, Carry On England (1976).

Michael Parr (Actor) .. Ross Barton

Born: August 06, 1986 in St Helens, Merseyside

Best Known For: Playing Ross Barton in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Born on August 6, 1986 in St Helens, Merseyside. Michael trained at the Elizabeth Hill School of Dance and Drama in St Helens and East 15 Acting School in Essex. He graduated in 2008.

Career: Parr's earliest professional acting roles were in short films, including No Way Through (2009) and Queensbury Rules (2011). Then, in 2012, he started landing TV roles in such series as Inside Men, Doctors, Casualty and Hollyoaks. When he was between acting jobs, he worked as a learning support assistant at a Special Educational Needs school. In 2013, he joined the cast of Emmerdale as Ross Barton.

Quote: "I get people mocking me on Twitter by saying, for instance, ‘how much gel do you use in your hair?'. And I always like to reply and try to get them on board."

Trivia: In 2015, he won Best Actor, Best Bad Boy and Sexiest Male at the Inside Soap Awards.

Beth Cordingly (Actor) .. Ruby Miligan

James Moore (Actor) .. Ryan Stocks

James Hooton (Actor) .. Sam Dingle

Best Known For: Playing Sam Dingle in Emmerdale.

Early-life: James was born in Carlton, Nottinghamshire, in 1973. He got into acting at a young age when he joined the Carlton Junior Television Workshop. At the age of 12, he made his TV debut in the children's series Your Mother Wouldn't Like It.

Career: Hooton went on to make guest appearances in a number of TV shows, including Peak Practice, Heartbeat and The Bill. He made his film debut in Shane Meadows' Twenty Four Seven (1997). He is best known for playing Sam Dingle in long-running ITV soap Emmerdale, a role he has played since 1995.

Quote: On Emmerdale: "I'm happy in my work. I love the cast and my work environment is great, it's a great family atmosphere."

Trivia: In 2007, he appeared with Emmerdale co-star Andy Devine ("Shadrach Dingle") on Soapstar Superchef.

Katie Hill (Actor) .. Sarah Sugden

Georgia Jay (Actor) .. Steph Miligan

Bertie Brotherton (Actor) .. Thomas Tate

Amy Walsh (Actor) .. Tracy Robinson

Best Known For: Playing Tracy Shankley in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Amy was born in Bradford to John and Diane Walsh. Her sister Kimberley was a singer with pop group Girls Aloud and her eldest sister Sally is also a fellow actress. They have a brother, Adam, who starred in an episode of Heartbeat. In 2011, Amy made her TV debut in an episode of Hollyoaks Later.

Career: Walsh's big break came in 2015 when she joined ITV soap Emmerdale as Tracy Shankley - the troublesome girlfriend of Sam Dingle. Walsh's older sister Sally had appeared in the Yorkshire-based soap between 1997 and 2000.

Quote: On her Emmerdale character: "I love dressing up as Tracy - she's so different from me."

Trivia: Walsh's favourite fashion era is the 1950s.

Michelle Hardwick (Actor) .. Vanessa Woodfield

Born: February 26, 1976 in Wakefield

Best Known For: The Royal and Emmerdale.

Early-life: Michelle was born in Wakefield on February 26, 1976. She studied performing arts at Park Lane College in Leeds before attending Scala Performing Arts in the city.

Career: Hardwick guest starred in Coronation Street, Heartbeat and The Courtroom before being cast as receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in hospital drama The Royal, a role she played for nine years. In 2012, she joined the cast of Emmerdale, playing Vanessa Woodfield.

Quote: "People say, ‘I'd never have guessed you were gay' because they expect you to look a certain way and I don't fit their stereotype."

Trivia: Hardwick has taken part in Race for Life events to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Isabel Hodgins (Actor) .. Victoria Sugden

Born: November 23, 1993 in Eccles, Greater Manchester

Best Known For: Playing Victoria Sugden in Emmerdale.

Early-life: Isabel Victoria Hodgins was born in Eccles, Greater Manchester, on November 23, 1993. Isabel was only 11 when she made an appeal in the Salford Advertiser for funding to allow her to spend a year at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London.

Career: When Emmerdale decided to recast the character of Victoria Sugden, Hodgins secured the job and her first episode aired in October 2006.

Quote: On her Emmerdale co-star Chelsea Halfpenny: "We have so much fun, and we're really close. We share a flat in Leeds and have the best time."

Trivia: Hodgins has been nominated for a number of British Soap Awards.

Bradley Johnson (Actor) .. Vinny Dingle

Alia Al-Shabibi (Actor) .. Anya

Laura Shaw (Producer)

Iain MacLeod (Executive producer)

Liam Johnson (Writer)

Tim O'Mara (Director)

Emmerdale: 22/12/2025

8:30 pm - 9:00 pm, Monday, December 22 on ITV1 London +1 (35)

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22/12/2025
Episode 10470

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