Kirin Kotecha

[Perdita]

Emmerdale bosses have announced the casting of Rakesh Kotecha's teenage son Kirin.

Adam Fielding will be playing the role of Kirin, who is a new regular character for the ITV soap.

Kirin makes his first appearance on screen next month, when village vet Vanessa Woodfield meets him on a night out in Hotten.

Vanessa and Kirin in Emmerdale
© ITV
Vanessa and Kirin in Emmerdale

Vanessa is delighted when she attracts the attention of the handsome stranger and she is quick to take him home, wanting some romance back in her life.

However, the mood quickly turns awkward for Vanessa when she discovers that her date is only 17 - and is also Rakesh's son.

An Emmerdale statement teased: "Shocked at his age but also staggered he's Rakesh's young son, suddenly it is all too close to home for Vanessa. But will Vanessa's heart start to rule her head where Kirin is concerned?"

Speaking of his new role, Fielding commented: "I am thrilled to be joining Emmerdale as Kirin. He's only 17 but he's a cool and confident guy and isn't going to let his age stop him where Vanessa is concerned."

Emmerdale viewers were introduced to Rakesh (Pasha Bocarie) earlier this month as he joined the village as a suitor for Priya Sharma in her arranged marriage storyline.

Show producer Kate Oates first spoke about the arrival of Rakesh's son in an interview with Digital Spy this month.

She told us: "A casting that I'm really excited about will be Rakesh's son, who'll also be arriving in the village. That'll be fun and we might have an interesting allegiance in the pipeline."

Michelle Hardwick, who plays Vanessa, had also previously expressed excitement over a new romance for her character, telling DS in June: "It's going to get a little bit busier for Vanessa on screen in the summer, so watch this space! Hopefully there's going to be a nice love interest for her."

Emmerdale will air Kirin's first scenes on Thursday, August 21.

[Glen1]

Might be interesting if he starts taking a shine to Priya.

[tammyy2j]

He looks more than 17

[heydrich39]

i thought she was gay??????

[tammyy2j]

i thought she was gay??????

Her love for Rhona seems to be forgotten now

[tammyy2j]

.

[crystalsea]

Rhona took her to a gay bar a while ago and she realised she didn't like women - but had fallen in love with Rhona as a one off liking the same sex - so no gay

Her love for Rhona seems to be forgotten now

[lizann]

Might be interesting if he starts taking a shine to Priya.

yes i agree

[lizann]

Might be interesting if he starts taking a shine to Priya.

yes i agree

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Adam Fielding has hinted at darker times to come for his character Kirin Kotecha as he reels in the wake of Vanessa Woodfield's baby news.

Kirin will go off the rails next week as he struggles to cope with his emotions after learning that Adam is the father of Vanessa's baby.

Kirin is shocked when Vanessa tells him that she's pregnant
© ITV
Kirin and Vanessa in Emmerdale

However, viewers know that Kirin's dad Rakesh actually doctored the DNA test results when he discovered that the baby was actually Kirin's.

Fielding said: "Kirin loves Vanessa and he was committed to the child. He was happy when he found out she was pregnant so he is distraught - something has been stripped away from him.

"He wanted to invest so much into this baby and then to realise that it might not be his is awful. It leaves him and Vanessa in a state. There is a big trust issue and there has been a betrayal."

As Kirin heads down a path of destruction next week, he will make a big mistake when he tries to kiss his father's partner, Priya.

A drunk Kirin tries to kiss Priya.
© ITV
A drunk Kirin tries to kiss Priya

Fielding said: "I'm not sure if he fancies Priya. Obviously she is attractive and she is young and they aren't too far away in age difference. There is that human attraction, but it hasn't crossed his mind before as he has always been too invested in Vanessa.

"But he is drunk, he is a little bit vulnerable and they get a bit too close to each other and stare for a little bit too long. Kirin reads the signal wrong and it happens."

Fielding also warned that there will be huge repercussions when Kirin learns that Rakesh meddled with the test results.

He said: "I don't know [what happens] yet but I would love to find out. All I do know is that judging on their relationship, Kirin and Rakesh have always had that little bit of tension but obviously he loves his dad.

"It would give Kirin an excuse to bring up some of Rakesh's past. It is going to be big."