Emmerdale stalwart Nicola Wheeler has teased potential new directions for her character, 24 years on from her debut in the iconic soap.
The actress, famed for portraying village busybody Nicola King since 2001, recently became a co-owner of Cafe Main Street, seizing an opportunity during Brenda Walker and Bob Hope's financial woes.
One of Nicola's most memorable plots unfolded in 2010 when she tied the knot with local Jimmy King (played by Nick Miles). The couple shares a daughter, Angelica, and Jimmy has two sons from previous relationships.
Although the soap veteran made it clear that her alter ego isn't looking to part ways with Jimmy anytime soon, she expressed curiosity about what dynamics could unfold with other characters.
During her appearance on the Off-Script podcast with Kelvin and Liz Fletcher, Nicola mused: "I love working with Nick, I mean I'd like to have a dabble with other people."
She has openly admitted that her off-screen rapport with co-star Nick is akin to that of a real-life married duo, despite their relationship being purely fictional on the ITV drama.
While chatting with Lorraine Kelly last year, the conversation turned to her on-screen marriage. Lorraine asked: "You two in Emmerdale have been married 10 years now, is it?" to which Nicola replied: "They must have been married about 14 years now."
Lorraine noted: "In real life, you two are really good mates and you'd need to be because you share so much time together. You must have that shorthand where you almost finish each other's sentences."
Nicola agreed, noting the unique connection she shares with her co-star: "We do. We have that thing of whenever I'm learning any scenes at home, I can hear Nick when I'm learning it. So I know how he's going to play it, I know the pattern."
She was quick to clarify that her own 15-year marriage is solid, but did reveal to Kelvin and Liz that her on-screen persona will be interacting with a "fabulous new guy".
Explaining further, she remarked: "He's coming into the character Lewis, it's not Nicola's toyboy though. They've got something in common which is quite funny, an odd thing to have in common but they do have something in common."
She added: "He's beautiful and young but not in a romantic way for my character."
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