Esteemed actress Jaye Griffiths has joined the long-running ITV soap as Celia, a no-nonsense tenant farmer whose arrival already has Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) on edge. (Jaye Griffiths is no stranger to soaps, having starred in Casualty, Doctors, and The Bill).
In upcoming scenes, Celia wastes no time in trying to expand her territory, turning up on Moira’s doorstep with a bold request to rent two of her fields. But Moira, dealing with her own mounting financial worries, isn’t keen, and her frosty reaction suggests this isn’t the first time she’s heard of Celia.
And things take a dramatic turn when Paddy (Dominic Brunt) is viciously attacked and hospitalised by one of Celia’s fearsome guard dogs. But it’s not just the dog bite that leaves villagers stunned, it’s Celia’s calm response.
Producer Laura Shaw teased big things ahead, revealing: “We are absolutely delighted to have Jaye Griffiths joining us to play the role of Celia. Having recently taken over a nearby farm, not much is known about mysterious Celia’s past before arriving on the outskirts of the village. While Celia has a tough edge with an air of respectability, the audience, and our villagers, will soon start to see what this woman is truly capable of.”
Jaye herself couldn’t be more excited about stepping into the role, saying: “I was delighted to get this role and without giving the game away, she is very different to anyone I have played before and I can’t wait to really get into the heart of her storyline.”
Viewers will soon learn that Celia is renting a nearby farm from Kim Tate, which in itself is enough to raise eyebrows, but with the Sugden and Barton families already locked in age-old rivalries, her presence is sure to stir the pot.
Emmerdale continues at 7.30pm on ITV1