An Emmerdale star has confirmed their exit from the ITV soap – and admitted ‘I would like to stay forever’ as they film their final scenes.
Actress Jaye Griffiths, 62, took on the role of villain and farmer Celia Daniels earlier this year.
Her alter-ego has been involved of plenty of drama over the last few months, after turning up at the Dales as a farmer keen to rent farms in the area.
But Celia has been up to all manner of dastardly deeds behind the scenes, including county lines drug dealing, prostitution and modern day slavery on her property.
Luckily for the residents of Emmerdale, she won’t be around for much longer.
Speaking to the media about her departure, Jaye said: ‘I knew it was finite, which I am very sad about, because I would like to stay forever, but it’s such a strong arc.’
An Emmerdale star has confirmed their exit from the ITV soap – and admitted ‘I would like to stay forever’ as they film their final scenes
Actress Jaye Griffiths, 62, took on the role of villain and farmer Celia Daniels earlier this year
The soap star hopes that her heartbreaking storylines will raise awareness and get people talking about such important topics.
She added: ‘Sometimes, when I read the script, I think, “really? You’re going to make me say that?” Just when you think she’s gone quite far enough, they’ll make me go a bit further! So yes, it’s horrendous.
‘Hopefully, maybe conversations will start to be heard. Maybe every nail bar will be just… Maybe a question will run through people’s minds.
‘Maybe every car wash, I don’t know how, as just an ordinary person, when you go into a car wash, do you say to them, “do you have a passport?”
‘How do you navigate that? How do you as just an ordinary citizen help? I asked a police officer, and he said, “don’t know”.’
Despite playing such an evil character, she has had plenty of love and support of fans.
Jaye said: ‘Everybody, they come up to me in the street and tell me much they love Celia and you think, ‘yeah, that’s not going to last’.
‘That’s so not going to last and I want to remind people that it’s just pretend and I am really nice and I’m not a sociopath. It’s so not gonna last, I’m gonna get hate mail!’
Back in May it was revealed that Jaye was going to join the Emmerdale cast.
The soap star hopes that her heartbreaking storylines will raise awareness and get people talking about such important topic – including April Winsdor being groomed into selling sex
Her alter-ego, who is renting a neighbouring farm from Kim Tate, was introduced when she enquired about renting two of Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) fields – but Moira wasn’t interested.
She was left shocked when Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) was viciously attacked by Celia’s guard dogs under suspicious circumstances.
Speaking about her role before she joined the show, Jaye said: ‘I was delighted to get this role – 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.’
Producer Laura Shaw added: ‘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 is no stranger to the industry and has appeared in various TV shows over the years.
The star played Sally Johnson in The Bill between 1993 and 2003, Sheena Whitehead in Casualty and Lilly Morton in Holby City.
She’s also landed the role as Professor Janet Mander in Silent Witness between 2008 and 2012.
Jay has also played Helen Marlowe in Criminal Justice and Nicola Taybarn QC in Coronation Street.
More recently, she played Jac in Doctober Who in 2015, as well as Helen Stritch in EastEnders, and Hannah Ware in Holby City the same year.
The telly favourite also played Ella Gardner in Casualty between 2016 and 2019.
More recently she played DI Karen Flitcroft in Death In Paradise, Ms Eira in Vikingskool and Marti Kapp in Vera.
Jaye keeps her private life out of the public eye, however she is married to Paul Bezodis.
Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
