A Coronation Street star is joining Emmerdale in a huge new role which is set to start filming this week.
The ITV soap is preparing for a new year of storylines in 2024 and newcomer to the cobbles Ella Forster, played by Paula Lane, will be a major part of it.
Paula, 37, played feisty Kylie Platt in Corrie from 2010 until her character’s tragic death in 2016.
The actress’ new character Ella has been described as ‘compassionate and caring’.
She will be introduced to ITV viewers in January as Ella will find herself out of a job when she sticks up for Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) who’s attending a Veterinary Ball with her partner Paddy Kirk.
‘I can’t wait to start a new chapter’: A Coronation Street star is joining Emmerdale in a huge new role which is set to start filming this week
‘I can’t wait to see her navigate a new life’: The ITV soap is preparing for a new year of amazing storylines in 2024 and newcomer Ella Forster, played by Paula Lane will be a major part of it
Luck will soon come Ella after a chance encounter with Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) opens up an opportunity.
It won’t be long into the new year until Ella is turning heads in the village.
Speaking about her new role, Paula said: ‘I’m so excited to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. Everyone has been so welcoming and I can’t wait to start a new chapter playing the role of Ella.
‘I’ve already heard there are big plans for her and I can’t wait to see her navigate a new life in the village and hopefully make some friends!’
Producer Kate Brooks said: ‘Ella is a complex and multi-layered character who comes to the village and certainly makes an impact.
‘Ostensibly she’s a good, moral character, but is there more to her than meets the eye?
‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome an actor of Paula’s calibre to the show and we can’t wait to have her light up our screens.’
In 2016, Paula admitted she was strangely comfortable after Coronation Street bosses told her they were killing off her character.
Killed off: Paula, 37, played feisty Kylie Platt in Corrie from 2010 until her character’s tragic death in 2016
Happier times: During Kylie’s six years on the cobbles, the troubled mother was at the centre of some high profile storylines (pictured with Jack P. Shepherd)
The actress, who has played Kylie Platt for six years, was pictured laying in a coffin as her devastated widower David watched over her.
But speaking of show bosses’ decision to kill her off after she decided to leave, Paula said: ‘I am more than happy with the exit and creatively I am excited to play it and see people’s reaction.’
In heart-breaking scenes, viewers saw a stricken Kylie laying peacefully in her coffin as a grieving David, played by Jack P. Shepherd, looked on in disbelief.
Speaking of her exit at the time, she said: ‘I knew it was a possibility, they have free reign to do what they want with your character once you make that decision to leave and sometimes when it is a much loved character they want to go for a big impactful exit.’
During Kylie’s six years on the cobbles, the troubled mother has been at the centre of some high profile storylines.
In 2015, during a live episode of Coronation Street, she murdered evil Callum Logan (Sean Ward) to stop him from harming her sister-in-law Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien).
The Platts buried him under their house, but a guilt-ridden Kylie buckled under the pressure.
She suggested the family leave Weatherfield, but instead she met her own untimely death that shocked viewers.
Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.
