Megan Macey

[Perdita]

Emmerdale bosses have announced that Gaynor Faye is joining the cast of the soap, taking on the role of Declan's glamorous half-sister Megan Macey.

Megan will make her debut on screen in early 2012 when she turns up to stay with Declan (Jason Merrells) at Home Farm, and show bosses have teased that she quickly makes an impact in the village.

Billed as "fiercely ambitious, intimidating and oozing self-confidence", Megan is able to stand up for herself against Declan and also shakes things up for his relationship with Katie (Sammy Winward).

Declan makes contact with his estranged sibling because he wants her to be involved in a big new project which looks likely to divide the village.

However, as Declan has been known for his turbulent family relationships in the past, viewers will be left to wonder whether he and Megan will become a formidable team or end up at odds.

Faye commented: "I'm incredibly excited to be joining Emmerdale and being a Yorkshire lass myself, filming in Leeds, my home town, is the icing on the cake!

"The women on Emmerdale are strong and feisty and I can't wait to play my character, who's fun but extremely driven and will stop at nothing to get her own way!

"She's quite different to many of the roles that I have played before and hopefully will take people by surprise. Here's to the New Year when I take my first tipple in The Woolpack!"

Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn added: "I'm thrilled to welcome Gaynor to the show. This is an exciting new character for us and a new era at Home Farm. Megan will quickly remind Declan she has a shrewd ability to get what she wants, when she wants it."

Faye is best known for roles in Coronation Street, Fat Friends and The Chase. She also starred in Playing The Field, on which she worked alongside Emmerdale actor James Thornton (John Barton).

[Katy]

i wondered where Gaynor Faye had got to, ive not seen her in anything for aces!

[alan45]

Typical soap Just invent a new relative that has never been mentioned before

[lizann]

So he stays with Katie for a while longer

[tammyy2j]

Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn has teased the upcoming arrival of Megan Macey, confirming that the show's newcomer will have a ruthless streak.

Emmerdale bosses recently announced that they had cast Gaynor Faye in the role of Megan, who is the half-sister of established regular Declan (Jason Merrells).

Blackburn has now promised that Megan will "really stir things up" when she makes her arrival in the village in early 2012.

"She's an incredibly strong and confident woman who won't allow herself to be used by men - or anyone," Blackburn told Inside Soap. "Megan is very competitive as well, and will really keep Declan on his toes.

"She'll have the likes of Charity and Chas rolling around with laughter, but then half an hour later, she'll shaft them! And she'll do it with a smile on her face, saying, 'It's only business, love!'"

Blackburn also hinted that there could be interesting scenes ahead between Megan and Carl King (Tom Lister).

He said: "When it comes to commitment to a fella, Megan would normally run a mile - but when lots of people in the village tell her not to go anywhere near Carl, it's like a red rag to a bull!"

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Emma Atkins has revealed that her character Charity Tate will not get along with newcomer Megan Macey.

Back in October, show bosses announced that Gaynor Faye had been cast in the role of Megan, who is the half-sister of Home Farm boss Declan.

Atkins teased the tension ahead as she made an appearance on The Alan Titchmarsh Show this afternoon.

Asked about her future at Emmerdale, the actress replied: "For now, I'm absolutely there - solid. I absolutely love my job and I'm happy - and it's working out really good.

"Who knows what's happening? But I'm about to start working with Gaynor Faye for a while, which will be good. I think we're going to be at loggerheads somewhat! That'll be interesting."

The 36-year-old said that she loves the drama surrounding Charity, who ties the knot with Jai Sharma this week.

"She's interesting, because she gets things wrong all the time," Atkins explained. "And I do like to play a character who's constantly in trouble. She never stops at a hurdle - she just keeps going!"

Emmerdale airs Charity's wedding episodes on Thursday at 7pm and 8pm on ITV1. Meanwhile, Megan makes her arrival in the village next month.