After a glut of high profile departures, Emmerdale fans might be buoyed by some good news.
With Kelvin Fletcher quitting his role as Andy Sugden after 20 years, quickly followed by Sophie Powles and Bill Ward announcing their intentions to leave, this could be the boost that the soap needs.
Gemma Oaten has indicated that she would “love” to come back to the Yorkshire Dales as Rachel Breckle.
She played the cleaner cum factory worker for four years.
Rachel was also Sam Dingle’s love interest as well as having a baby with Jai Sharma.
If that wasn’t all complicated enough, she was eventually ran out of town in a blackmail plot that saw her having to confess to setting fire to Home Farm in order to save fiance Sam from prison.
The 32-year-old spoke to BANG Showbiz at the 25th anniversary dinner of HIV charity Positive East, where she revealed her desire to return.
Gemma said: “I’d love love to go back to Emmerdale.”
She also revealed that Rachel has unfinished business in the village.
She revealed: “I need to go back and beat up Jai.”
With this mouthwatering prospect on the horizon, for now Gemma wants some period drama action.
After making her name in the soaps, she would like to do something that is away from her current typecast.
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Gemma explained: “There are talks about a period drama.
“It would be amazing to get that and be in a corset rather than trackie bottoms and a hoodie.
“It would be great to do something really different.”
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She continued: “All of the characters I’ve played have been rough and ready…
“Over the years, I’ve set fire to a pub, I’ve hit a boyfriend and I’ve taken drugs on screen.
“But I can scrub up OK so doing a period piece would be perfect for me.”
Maybe Rachel will return to Emmerdale all dressed up to the nines?
With the way her character was, that would be the most shocking way for her to return.