Leyla/David/Alicia/Justin

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has confirmed that she returns to filming at the soap next week.

The actress, who plays feisty Alicia Gallagher, has been on maternity leave in recent months and gave birth to a baby boy named Freddie at the beginning of August.

Speaking on Daybreak today (October 15), Anderson explained that she is looking forward to reprising her soap role.

Anderson commented: "I can officially say I go back to work next Monday, so I'm really excited."

She continued: "My husband is doing a lot of the childcare with Freddie because he works from home, which is why it was a really good choice for us to have a baby now. I'm really looking forward to seeing all my friends [at Emmerdale], which is going to be amazing."

Alicia's current absence from screens means that Anderson will not be taking part in Emmerdale's hour-long live episode on Wednesday evening (October 17).

Anderson commented: "I would have loved to have done it to be honest, because I'm theatre-trained and live TV is amazing, so I am a bit disappointed. However, you've got to put it in comparison with having my baby.

"I'm really excited for everybody and I know they've just worked so, so hard. I really want everyone to tune in on Wednesday, because it's going to be amazing."

She added: "The only thing that worries me is the weather, because the village is just so exposed. But I think that's what makes us really special, because we're out there and we're doing it against the elements.

"I know EastEnders and Coronation Street have done their live episodes and they were amazing, so I think this is a huge challenge for us and I'm really excited. We'll be brilliant."

Alicia was jailed for attacking Val Pollard in July.

Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has admitted that he is still expecting a happy ending for David Metcalfe and his wife Alicia.

David married Alicia (Natalie Anderson) in a sham wedding last summer. However, since Alicia's recent return from prison, David has remained committed to girlfriend Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade).

Wolfenden told Soaplife of the storyline: "There's obviously something there with Alicia. Even when he's with Priya, [David] tells Alicia he still wants her and Jake to live with him.

"At the moment, he's saying, 'I do love you - but only as a friend'. But the longer time goes on, the more that friendship is turning into love."

He continued: "It's such a sad situation. Alicia only ended up in prison because she hit Val defending David. Then the love of her life gets with the local posh girl."

Emmerdale's former series producer Stuart Blackburn recently teased that David may start to see Alicia in a new light when she gets a new career at Home Farm and captures the attention of another love interest.

Asked whether there is a chance David could realise Alicia is the love of his life, Wolfenden replied: "Yes, absolutely. I think and feel that's the way it's going and it's what the viewers want. I think it will happen, but not yet."

Emmerdale continues tonight (January 2) at 7pm on ITV1.


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...#ixzz2pEXPPcvI

David Metcalfe's Emmerdale love triangle comes to a head next week as he ends his sham relationship with wife Alicia and commits to girlfriend Priya Sharma.

With David and Alicia (Natalie Anderson) no longer needing to stay together, they begin to spread the news around the village that they've split up. This frees David up to go public with his real relationship, but just how strong are his feelings for Priya in reality?

Here, Matthew Wolfenden - who plays David - reveals full details of what's ahead for his character's complicated personal life.

Does David realise just how upset Alicia is over his relationship with Priya?
"As daft as David is, he does know how much he's hurt Alicia, but he's one of those people who brushes everything under the carpet. He pretends that it's not happening - he just doesn't want to think about how upset Alicia is.

"I don't think David understands his own feelings, either. He's saying that it's all about Jacob, who he thinks the world of. I don't think he realises that he possibly has feelings for Alicia - he's just putting it all onto Jacob and brushing the whole Alicia thing to one side."

Does David show any signs of his growing feelings for Alicia?
"There's obviously something there for Alicia, and he asks her to keep living with him. Even though he's with Priya, he still wants Alicia and Jacob to be there. David says, 'I do love you, but it's as a friend'. But as time goes by, that 'friendship love' is turning more into real love. David doesn't really understand it himself."


Do you think David might have stayed married to Alicia if Priya hadn't been in the picture?
"Very possibly! I think it's such a sad story, really. We have to remember that the reason Alicia went to prison was for David. She hit Val because she was defending David and was in love with him. Then the love of her life gets with someone else. It's a horrible thing to have happened.

"All along it was only supposed to be a short-term thing while Alicia was in prison, but who knows what could have happened if Priya hadn't been around?"

What are David's feelings for Priya?
"David thinks he is serious about Priya, and he thinks he's in love with her. But it's a funny situation as he still wants Alicia to carry on living with him because they've got an amazing family."

When David returns from holiday next week, Alicia reveals that she's had to tell Jacob about them splitting up…
"That's horrible for David. He's devastated because, to be honest, Jacob's his only friend in the village apart from Nikhil! I think he's gutted that he might lose one of his little sidekicks.

"Jacob's devastated that this has not only happened to Justin and Alicia, it's also happened to David and Alicia. Jacob feels that it's his fault, and David can't get through to him that it's not. David is pretty devastated about losing Jacob, and he doesn't realise that he's actually devastated about losing Alicia as well."

What does Priya make of it all?
"Priya's definitely a bit jealous of the relationship that David has with Jacob. Everything revolves around Jacob at the moment - everything that David says and does. He's not letting himself go at all in his relationship with Priya, because of the whole Jacob thing holding him back. I think Priya's worried that this situation is going to bring him closer to Alicia."

How does David deal with the Jacob situation?
"David desperately tries to tell Jacob that the break-up is not his fault, but at the same time, he doesn't want to tell him the truth about the marriage - that it was a sham and never real. David then ends up giving Jacob some false hope by saying, 'Listen, never say never, things might happen in the future'.

"David's only saying it to make Jacob a little bit happier, but it really makes Jacob think that maybe he could do something to get his mum and David together. He goes away and tries to cook a meal for them. It goes wrong as he burns the pizza he's cooking, but bless him, he thinks that if he tries it will work."

David and Alicia soon announce their split to the village. What kind of a reaction do they get?
"David's not too popular with everybody. Even though this marriage was a sham and David did it out of the goodness of his heart, Alicia comes out on top when they tell everyone that they're splitting up.

"David is a little bit bewildered that Alicia seems to be milking it for sympathy. She tells everyone that it's David's fault as he's the one that wants to split up. David is quite upset about all that!"


In the end, Jacob spots David and Priya kissing. How does David feel about that?
"I think he's pretty devastated by it - the last thing David wanted was for Jacob to find out in that way. He desperately wants Jacob and Alicia to stay and live with him, but when Jacob catches them, it puts the final nail in the coffin.

"Later, David and Alicia sit Jacob down and David pleads with Alicia by saying, 'Please tell him the truth because I'm getting it in the neck when I'm the good guy in this!' Jacob isn't very happy when he finds out that they've lied to him about the marriage from the start. Jacob and Alicia move out soon after that, and David has lost his two best mates, really.

"Then in the days that follow, Priya goes public with the fact that David is her boyfriend. Alicia leaves the room at The Woolpack and Priya comes over to give David a kiss in front of everyone. Unfortunately, Alicia walks in and sees the whole thing."

Does David worry that he'll lose contact with Jacob?
"I think that he knows he won't lose contact with him completely, but he does fear that he'll lose that close bond they have. Jacob is the son that he never had, so it's really not a good time for David."

It sounds like there's still some hope that David could realise his true feelings for Alicia eventually, though…
"Absolutely. I've felt that it's been going that way for a year or so. People in supermarkets are always asking me when David is going to get with Alicia, so it's what the people want.

"I think that will be the climax to the story. It's where it needs to go as a nice ending to the love story. But I think it's going to be a long time away, and there's lots of twists and turns before that happens!"

i hate david with priya get him with alicia soon

Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden has revealed that David's upcoming engagement to Priya seems like the "simple" option.

David has been at the centre of a love triangle with girlfriend Priya, played by Fiona Wade, and wife Alicia (Natalie Anderson), who he married as part of a shame arrangement. While Alicia and David have feelings for each other, she and son Jacob have moved out to allow David and Priya to be open about their relationship.

Speaking to We Love TV, Wolfenden admitted that he doesn't know how the situation will turn out.

"I genuinely don't know if he will go ahead with his relationship with Priya, or decide that he's in love with Alicia," he explained.

"I get men coming up to me and saying, 'Well done mate, caught between two lasses!', but I'm not sure David knows what he's doing. He's a helpless man caught between two strong, sexy women."

In the coming weeks, David will propose to Priya, but Wolfenden said that it could be because it is easier than admitting his feelings to Alicia.

He said: "It's just so complicated with Alicia, as she's his ex-fiancee's sister. It's so messy, while Priya is simple by comparison and that's what he needs."

The 32-year-old revealed that this has been one of his "favourite stories to film so far", but confessed that he struggles with love scenes. When he does have to perform them, he said he practices with girlfriend and co-star Charley Webb, who plays Debbie Dingle.

However, he revealed that he has taken a tough stance with producers on some occasions.

"I do draw the line," he said. "Every time I read scenes and David has his top off, I go straight up to see the bosses and say, 'Look, I'm 32, I'm a dad, I'm fat and I'm not doing it!' If I was 21, I'd get my kit off every day, but viewers don't want to see that."

Priya's would be better off out of it, David has become a total gibbering idiot, hell mend him landing up with the other one who conned him into marrying him.

Meanwhile, TV Times reports that Alicia's first duty as events manager at Home Farm will be to organise David and Priya's wedding! Alicia agrees to have her own marriage to David annulled, but will she be able to keep a lid on her feelings?

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3...#ixzz2IiAqiD00

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Perdita

Meanwhile, TV Times reports that Alicia's first duty as events manager at Home Farm will be to organise David and Priya's wedding! Alicia agrees to have her own marriage to David annulled, but will she be able to keep a lid on her feelings?

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s3...#ixzz2IiAqiD00

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Didnt Alicia have a dalliance with Declan when he first came to Emmerdale interesting that she is back there working now and he is having problems with Katie but I'd prefer Alicia with David

Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has admitted that he still doesn't know whether the show's bosses have a happy ending in store for David Metcalfe and Alicia Gallagher.

David recently brought his sham relationship with Alicia (Natalie Anderson) to an end and is now concentrating on building a future with Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade), with the pair set to get engaged in tomorrow night's (January 25) episode.

Speaking on This Morning today (January 24), Wolfenden heaped praise on the ongoing love triangle storyline.

Wolfenden commented: "It is just like a rom-com. It's a great story - I've loved it. It's a hard job, being on there with them two beautiful girls!

"It's nice when you get these storylines. To be honest, everyone at Emmerdale's lovely, so whoever you're working with, you're going to have a great time. But it's nice to get a good storyline."

However, asked whether he knows where the story is heading in the long-run, Wolfenden replied: "No!"

He explained: "We only get to know about two weeks before filming, when we get our scripts. We get our scripts every two weeks, so we all pick our scripts up and quickly go through them."

The actor added that the ideal outcome to the storyline would be David settling down with Alicia.

He said: "As a rom-com love story, I think he needs to eventually end up with Alicia again. In the end, I think he needs to go full circle. For the time being, he is staying with Priya, but there needs to be a happy ending. I think the happy ending is him getting with Alicia."

Emmerdale airs its usual Thursday night double bill this evening (January 24) at 7pm and 8pm on ITV.

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has called for the return of her character's half-sister Leyla Harding.

The actress said that a surprise comeback for Leyla should be the next big drama for Alicia if she ever settles down with David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden).

David is currently planning to marry Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade), but viewers are expecting him to fall for Alicia eventually.

Leyla was also engaged to David before she left the village in 2011.

Anderson told TV Extra of her Emmerdale future: "I've signed up until December so we'll have to wait and see if Emmerdale still wants me and what they want to do with the character. At the moment, I'm really happy.

"For Alicia, I'd love her and David to fall in love and have a happy family, and then for Alicia's sister to come back."

Fans can expect more hints that David has feelings for Alicia later this month, as they are forced to pose as a happy couple for a wedding brochure being planned by Megan Macey.

David and Priya are the original choices, but Alicia takes her love rival's place at the last minute when Priya has an allergic reaction to some make-up.

Anderson explained: "Megan makes Alicia stand in and she doesn't want to, but she wants to keep her job. During the photoshoot, we can see that David is looking at Alicia a bit differently and it all gets a bit much for him.

"Alicia is trying to be professional and it wouldn't enter her head to think there's a chance, because he's rejected her twice before."

Emmerdale fans see romantic sparks fly between Alicia Gallagher and David Metcalfe next week as they pose as a happy couple for a wedding brochure.

With Megan Macey planning the brochure to advertise Home Farm's wedding services, she initially chooses David (Matthew Wolfenden) and his fiancée Priya Sharma for the photos.

Unfortunately, Priya (Fiona Wade) has an allergic reaction to some make-up on the day of the photoshoot, which means that Alicia has to take her place. As a result, the unresolved feelings between Alicia and David become ever more apparent…

Here, Natalie Anderson - who plays Alicia - chats about the big week ahead for the ongoing love triangle storyline.

How does Alicia feel about David at the moment?
"At the moment, Alicia's in a good place in her head when it comes to David. I don't think she'll ever stop loving David deep down, but she's now realised that she has to manage her feelings. Alicia has put a stone on it and she's moving on. She's treating David very much as her best friend again."

How has David's engagement to Priya affected things?
"I definitely think that the engagement changed the way that Alicia felt about David. That's partly because Alicia doesn't know the context of the engagement. In Alicia's mind, David got down on one knee and proposed fully to Priya - she has no idea that he never actually intended to propose to her!

"As far as Alicia is concerned, David has made his choice, so she has to sort her head out and get on with it."

How does Alicia feel about having to arrange a wedding photoshoot for David and Priya?
"This is a test from Megan's point of view. At the moment, Alicia desperately wants to impress Megan, because she loves this job at Home Farm so much. She's also impressed by Megan as a person and as a mentor, so she doesn't want to let her down.

"Because the job is also so important for Jacob's sake, Alicia decides that she needs to test herself on this one, too. She wants to arrange this photoshoot, get on with it, and do it as professionally as she can."

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Alicia is working on David and Priya's wedding.


Is it awkward for Alicia on the day, though?
"Well, what's nice is that Alicia is actually being incredibly professional about everything, and she's picked out an amazing dress for Priya. You'll see that Priya even gives Alicia an apology, saying, 'You've done things better than I ever thought you would have done'.

"Alicia is grateful for that and she takes it as a compliment, because this job is a new field for her and a test for her as a person. It's so different from anything else that she's done, so she's trying her very best to do it tastefully. There's no awkwardness between Alicia and Priya, it's more white flags - they're calling a truce and it looks like it's going to be fine."

But then Priya gets a dreadful rash from the make-up that Alicia has given her!
"She does, but it's genuinely nothing to do with Alicia at all. Priya comes out fuming, saying that it's Alicia's fault and she's done this deliberately. Alicia is so upset because Megan is watching on, and she firmly denies it."

What happens next?
"Megan then says that Alicia will have to step in and take Priya's place in the photos! Alicia begs Megan not to make her do it, but in the end she does it because Megan is watching on with fire in her eyes.

"Again, this is a test to see whether Alicia can do her job, and she's not going to let Megan down. Her deciding to do the photoshoot is nothing to do with David or wanting to be close to him - that genuinely doesn't enter her head. She has to do it because her new boss is testing her and she needs to rise to the challenge."

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Priya reveals her facial rash.


We'll see that the photographer, Lee, flirts with Alicia. Does David get jealous?
"He does get a little bit jealous. It's from the moment that he sees Alicia in the wedding dress that he does start to feel a bit differently towards her. Then Lee does flirt with her, so David starts to feel a bit protective!"

Was it fun dressing up in the wedding dress for these scenes?
"I loved the idea of it, but we were working outside and the day itself was so unbelievably cold! My lips actually turned blue! It was when the snow had fallen and the temperature was about minus two.

"I was meant to come out and look amazing in the wedding dress, but I actually came out looking like an icicle! (Laughs.) Because of that, maybe it won't transpire on screen as it was meant to! If you look closely you might even be able to see the blue lips - it's definitely not blue lipstick!"

Is David bowled over when he sees Alicia in the dress?
"He is bowled over by her, yes. She doesn't look very much like Alicia - the dress and hair are both really tasteful, and the make-up is really minimal.

"It also harps back to that moment when they got married last year. They were best friends at that point, and there was nobody else involved. Whichever way you look at it, David loved Alicia to do that for her, even if those feelings weren't romantic.

"When David sees how separate they've now become in their friendship, he must think, 'Oh that's my girl that I lived with, we had such a laugh and now it's gone'. He doesn't have her there now and the relationship has severed a bit. I think there's an element of sadness from David because of that, but also an element that Alicia does scrub up well, too!"

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Alicia prepares for the photo shoot.


Alicia and David also have to kiss for the photos. Is this a big moment for them?
"It's definitely a big moment. They've only ever kissed once before at their wedding, which was very short and sweet. I like to keep reminding the audience that David and Alicia have never actually been together, so this is new territory for them. When they were married, they weren't actually together and there was no intimacy there.

"However, in this moment doing the photos, it's two people that actually feel something. It starts off really awkward as neither of them want to do it at first, but Megan's like, 'Come on, get into it!' Also, the photographer wants them to hold the kiss for the pictures.

"David then starts to melt into the kiss, and Alicia loses herself a bit with David. When they say it's a wrap, Alicia and David both come away from the kiss a bit shocked. You definitely see in that moment that something's there.

"Afterwards, Alicia thinks that it's her own feelings getting the better of her, and for all she knows, David feels nothing for her so she can't let herself open up like that again."

How does Alicia feel when she sees the pictures?
"The brochure never actually gets put together, but she does see the pictures and she's really sad. It's a reminder of that moment where she lost her feelings, when recently she's been really good at keeping them suppressed. They also look like a gorgeous married couple in the pictures, so it's really sad for her."

Does Alicia feel that she's got one over on Priya in this situation?
"No, Alicia is not being malicious like that in any way at all. She doesn't want to get one over on Priya. Priya is really upset about these pictures, and the last thing Alicia wanted was to be involved in this sort of situation. She wanted to be distant, professional and to plan their wedding. She's really sweet to Priya, actually."

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Alicia and David kiss for the wedding photo shoot.


How does Alicia feel when David and Priya want to prevent the pictures being published?
"Alicia wants to help them out, so she asks Megan if they can respect David and Priya's wishes by not running the photos. However, Megan says, 'Absolutely not - we're just going to print the pictures anyway'.

"Alicia then goes to give the bad news to David and he shouts at her. She's really hurt and she says, 'I never wanted to do this brochure, it was your and Priya's idea, and I also think it's a bit much that you wanted to do this brochure knowing that I was organising it'. There's no tact, there's no sensitivity from either of them, really, but Alicia's the one being blamed."

What happens next?
"Alicia goes to Megan and almost loses her job, because she says that she's not going to sign the consent forms for the pictures to be used. David and Priya see this, and David starts to realise just how much Alicia loves him - that she would actually lose her job for him."

Doesn't Alicia see that David's feelings for her are growing, too?
"At this moment in time, no. I don't think she'd dare to hope that was the case. At Christmas, she had her heart completely trampled on and she's protecting herself. However, there is an inkling that something is not right.

"Alicia can't put her finger on it with David, but there seems to be a reluctance there when it comes to him and Priya. For someone who's about to get married to the 'love of his life', why is there such a reluctance? Alicia thinks that maybe he's getting cold feet or being rushed, but she hasn't come round to the fact that it could be because of her."

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Alicia and David.


After everything that's happened, are you still hoping that Alicia and David get together?
"I really want them to! I think the dynamic they have as a trio with Jacob is brilliant. Joe-Warren, who plays Jacob, is growing up so much now - so there's a great relationship when he's working with Matthew. He's really coming into his own. It's a nice area and another arm for David's character. For Alicia, it's also fun to play that family dynamic."

Are the viewers on Alicia's side or Priya's?
"Everywhere I go, they're definitely on Alicia's side! It is a difficult one, because I think the audience have seen Alicia go through a bit of a transformation over the past few years. She's let her guard down a few times - with Andy, with Carl, with David - and she keeps getting knocked back.

"I think the general public tend to warm to an underdog, and Alicia's an underdog at the moment. Yes she's hard, yes she's brassy and bold, but underneath that she's got an absolute heart of gold."

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has said that the soap is a "lovely" place to work as a new mum.

The actress welcomed the arrival of baby boy Freddie last August. She returned to work towards the end of last year, reprising her role as Alicia Gallagher following maternity leave.

Anderson has now revealed that she is delighted to have so many fellow parents among the Emmerdale cast - including Chris Bisson (Jai Sharma), who became a dad in January.

She said: "Myself and my husband James recently met up with Chris, his girlfriend and his lovely baby. That was really nice. It was weird to see his baby son Harry in comparison to Freddie, as he looked so tiny! Freddie is looking so big now.

"What's really nice about Emmerdale is there's a lot of support around you. It's a very friendly show, and there's a lot of people who've just had small children.

"I'm really good friends with Matthew Wolfenden and Charley Webb, who've got their son Buster. Sam Giles who plays Bernice is a mum, and we've also got people behind the cameras who've just had children.

"We all can chat and go to people for advice, so it's a lovely place to work."


The 31-year-old added that a strong support network has helped her to cope well with her return to work.

She commented: "I'm balancing work and motherhood well, actually. But that's only down to the fact that I've got an amazing support network - my mum, my mother-in-law and my amazing husband.

"They allow me to be able to come to work and do my job, because I know that at all times, Freddie is so well looked after by his grandparents and his dad. That's such a rare position for any working mum to be in, so I'm so thankful and grateful to my lovely family."

Emmerdale continues tonight (March 15) at 7pm on ITV

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has said that the soap is a "lovely" place to work as a new mum.

The actress welcomed the arrival of baby boy Freddie last August. She returned to work towards the end of last year, reprising her role as Alicia Gallagher following maternity leave.

Anderson has now revealed that she is delighted to have so many fellow parents among the Emmerdale cast - including Chris Bisson (Jai Sharma), who became a dad in January.

She said: "Myself and my husband James recently met up with Chris, his girlfriend and his lovely baby. That was really nice. It was weird to see his baby son Harry in comparison to Freddie, as he looked so tiny! Freddie is looking so big now.

"What's really nice about Emmerdale is there's a lot of support around you. It's a very friendly show, and there's a lot of people who've just had small children.

"I'm really good friends with Matthew Wolfenden and Charley Webb, who've got their son Buster. Sam Giles who plays Bernice is a mum, and we've also got people behind the cameras who've just had children.

"We all can chat and go to people for advice, so it's a lovely place to work."


The 31-year-old added that a strong support network has helped her to cope well with her return to work.

She commented: "I'm balancing work and motherhood well, actually. But that's only down to the fact that I've got an amazing support network - my mum, my mother-in-law and my amazing husband.

"They allow me to be able to come to work and do my job, because I know that at all times, Freddie is so well looked after by his grandparents and his dad. That's such a rare position for any working mum to be in, so I'm so thankful and grateful to my lovely family."

Emmerdale continues tonight (March 15) at 7pm on ITV

Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has admitted that the soap's bosses still haven't told him who his character David Metcalfe ends up with.

David has spent the past few months feeling torn between sham wife Alicia (Natalie Anderson) and on-off girlfriend Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade), and there are more twists ahead for the love triangle in the next few episodes.

Speaking on ITV's Loose Women today (May 15) about the story's long-term future, Wolfenden commented: "David's been a bit naughty. You've got to be a bit naughty on a soap, haven't you?

"In true soap style, it's got to go wrong again. But I genuinely don't know. As actors, we're the last people who they tell what's going to happen, because we come on shows like this and we give it away, so they don't tell us!

"So I genuinely don't know what happens. I don't know if I end up marrying Priya and it goes wrong."

On the fan reaction to the storyline, he continued: "Obviously with Twitter nowadays, I get a hundred tweets every night after we've been on air.

"But it's definitely Alicia who they want him to be with. They just want David and Alicia to be together, even though Priya is not a bad person. To be honest, it's David that's done the bad thing, but they just love Alicia."

Wolfenden also spoke about being nominated for 'Sexiest Male' at the 2013 British Soap Awards, which take place this weekend. Chris Fountain, David Witts, Danny Mac and Kieron Richardson are also up for the prize.

He said: "I'm definitely the oldest one out of the five, so I've got that award. It's not important to win it, it's a bit of a daft award, but it's nice as people have voted for me to get down to the last five, so I can't say that I'm not bothered about it. It's dead nice that people vote."

The 2013 British Soap Awards air on Sunday (May 19) from 8pm on ITV.

Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has praised the show for revisiting its rural roots.

The actor, who plays David Metcalfe, confirmed that producers have made a conscious decision to embrace the soap's countryside setting with more on-location scenes in recent episodes.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Wolfenden explained: "I think that's something that our previous producer Stuart Blackburn, towards him leaving, and our new boss Kate Oates have wanted to get back into the show. I know we've lost the title Emmerdale Farm - that went way before I started here - but people do enjoy seeing the countryside.

"Viewers don't want to see the inside of a house for a full episode. It's nice to see someone walking across a field, working on the farm, falling into some mud or falling into a river! They're working much more of that into the show again.

"We've got such a stunning location. I still turn up in the village and think that it's beautiful every day. In the winter it's the most horrible place to work because it's so cold, but during the summer it's beautiful."

Discussing the recent producer changeover, Wolfenden continued: "Kate at the moment is just seeing out what Stuart did, because it takes so long for the previous material to filter out. Things have definitely changed as that's what a new producer does - they come in and they put their own stamp on it.

"I think Kate is really up on the comedy stuff, which is great for me because I keep getting nice one-liners and some nice things to say. The show is going to take a different path now, but Stuart was an incredible producer who brought us some brilliant storylines. Every producer takes the show to a different level, but in a different way. We're all really excited that Kate is on board."

David's current storyline sees him at the centre of a love triangle with Alicia Gallagher and Priya Sharma, but fans have often wondered whether his previous fiancée Leyla Harding will ever return.

On the possibility of seeing Leyla again, Wolfenden laughed: "Funny you should say that, because it might be happening!"

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has admitted that fans seem desperate for her character Alicia Metcalfe to ruin David and Priya's wedding.

Alicia will continue to plan the couple's big day in upcoming episodes, even though she still harbours strong feelings of her own for David (Matthew Wolfenden).

Speaking on ITV's This Morning today (June 10), Anderson explained that viewers are keen to see Alicia and David finally get together in a shock twist at the ceremony.

She laughed: "Everyone keeps asking me this! Everywhere I go, it's like, 'Is it going to be at the wedding? Will you get together at the wedding?' I genuinely don't know.

"All I do know is that there's a huge autumn planned at the moment for Emmerdale, and there's all kinds of different interwoven storylines. Whether that means Alicia will be ruining the wedding, I have absolutely no idea! I really don't know."

She added: "We've had a very 'Ross and Rachel' response with people saying [to Matthew], 'Please say Alicia's name at the wedding!' and 'Does she say I love you?' Everyone's really romantic, and I'm really romantic as well."

Anderson also confirmed that she will be a contestant on ITV's upcoming Saturday night singing show Your Face Sounds Familiar.

Hosted by Alesha Dixon and Paddy McGuinness, the series challenges a regular cast of celebrities to perform as different music icons.

Anderson said: "I don't know quite what I've got myself into! It's going to be great fun, though. I'm still working at Emmerdale at the same time.

"I do sing - I'm a trained singer and I was in the West End. But it's not really about that, this show. It's more about the impersonations. It's more about, 'Can you get that character?' I could end up being anyone random!"

Emmerdale's Alicia Gallagher quits her job at Home Farm next week after her unresolved feelings for David Metcalfe get the better of her.

Alicia leaves her role as events manager after deciding that she can no longer cope with planning David's upcoming wedding to Priya Sharma.

Here, Natalie Anderson - who plays Alicia - reveals why her character's love life remains as complicated as ever.

Has Alicia really believed that she was over David at any point?
"I definitely think she has. I think the moment she decided she would move in with Dom, she thought, 'Yes, okay. I'm really going to try and make a go of it', especially as the wedding was ploughing ahead. She's not really seen David that much - they've kind of stayed out of each other's way. I definitely think that she was starting to convince herself that she was over it."

So what is it that suddenly hits home?
"When the annulment arrives, I think that it's just so final it brings everything back to her and she realises she's still completely madly in love with him and they've been through so much together. They started out as friends and then looking after each other. With everything they've been through together, she just can't let it go, so it's definitely the annulment that sparks that off."

Does Alicia think she's a better match for David than Priya deep down?
"I think deep down she does, because I think she knows David better and I don't think Alicia likes what Priya has done to David. I think there's many moments in scenes where she's like, 'She's bossing you around, she's bullying you, what do you mean you're doing all these stupid things for the wedding? You'd never have dreamed of doing that, you were a man on the council'.

"That's what she keeps remembering and I think they both like the same things. They both would be quite happy to go to the pub, go home, watch telly, have a family and be like, 'I've cooked your tea, love'. Alicia's never wanted much more than a family environment really, and I think that's the same for David."


Does Alicia think David feels the same way about her?
"I think initially she does. She had the niggling doubts right at the very beginning just after his engagement when she was like, 'Why can't you let me go? What's wrong with you?' and then it turned out he loved her.

"I think those moments are starting to creep in because he starts to talk to her quite fondly about their wedding. That makes her think, 'Hold on, something's not right here again'. It makes her question that he's being a bit shady about everything and he doesn't seem full steam ahead with it all, he seems a bit bullied into it."

When the annulment does come through, what kind of conversation takes place between Alicia and David?
"It's quite a warm conversation, but it's definitely loaded - I think all of David and Alicia's conversations are completely loaded. Neither of them are saying exactly what they want to say ever, and I think if you watch scenes with them, they're always like that.

"But with that particular conversation, David is testing the water as to how she feels about it. She's testing the water too, but neither of them are being open. It's warm in the end in the sense that they do talk fondly about their wedding and the fact they're still friends. Most people who get divorced aren't friends."

Does Priya's arrival back from wedding boot camp ruin the moment that was building?
"I think it does, but I think it also puts Alicia firmly back in her place and when she sees Priya all excited again she's like, 'No, you've really got to concentrate on what's what and they are getting married, end of. Deal with it'."


How does Megan react when Alicia tells her that she's struggling to move on from David?
"She is basically like, 'Be professional', although Megan's quite a cool customer so she's not very emotional, whereas Alicia is hyper-emotional. Megan does also say something to Alicia that upsets her a little bit, she says, 'He doesn't really care', which makes Alicia feel a bit bad!"

So Megan expects Alicia to crack on with the wedding planning?
"Yeah crack on, get on with the job because I think that's what we see Megan do every day of her life. She's got all kinds of stuff going on but she's very, 'No, work is work and this is what we do and we don't think about our feelings too much', and that's kind of what she says to Alicia.

"However, Alicia loves David, and it's as simple and as basic as that. She absolutely loves him and it's the thought of giving him away to somebody - because that's essentially what she's doing. She's planning this whole wedding to give him away to somebody else and she just cannot do it. As much as she wants to, she can't."

Alicia ends up leaving Home Farm over this. How does she cope?
"She just goes back to the pub and she's like, 'Can I have some more shifts?' basically. She's always thought she was going to get made redundant over the last few weeks anyway, with the body and everything else. She says to Megan, 'I'm doing you a favour. This way you don't have to make me redundant - I'm walking away from you'."

What does Alicia say to Dom about her decision to leave?
"It's pretty awful this situation, because Dom is such a nice guy. She absolutely hates it and kind of lies by saying that she got sacked. Well actually she doesn't, she does the typical Alicia thing of letting people make their own assumptions and then going, 'Well yeah'. She goes along with it - she knows she can't be too truthful because then that will show her true feelings, and she does genuinely want to make a go of it with Dom.

"This is another reason she does leave because she thinks, 'If I get away from this, if I get away from David and Priya, I can wholeheartedly concentrate on this relationship with Dom'. She's trying to think for her own future as well, so it's really awful because she hates lying to him and she wants to make a go of it with him."


Are you enjoying working with Will Johnson, who plays Dom?
"Will is so lovely - he's really, really great. He's just so funny and he does all kinds of different accents. It drives me up the wall sometimes, but they can be really funny as well. We have really deep conversations and the funniest thing - he's going to kill me for saying this - we do everything in a bit of a musical because obviously I'm singing and especially when I was doing Your Face Sounds Familiar, we were doing all our rehearsals as a musical.

"He would be like, 'Aliiiciaaaa, what are you doiiiiiing?' and then I'd be like, 'I don't knoooooow, I've come to seeeee you', so that is one of the best things that we do. It's hilarious. You kind of have to be there but we find it really funny."

What would you like to happen next in the storyline?
"I would like David to be the one that seriously stands up for Alicia and says, 'I want to be with her', because I don't think she can do it anymore. Of course I'd love to see David and Alicia together, because I do believe that they are absolute soul mates and they are best friends, which I think is what makes their relationship special. But I don't think I can see Alicia going in there and saying, 'I really love you, you can't marry Priya'. I just don't see it happening. I wouldn't want Alicia to do that, I'd like her to have a bit more self-respect.

"In the future, I'd also like Alicia and David to have a baby in some way, we'll see. I'd like her to have that because she's so desperately always wanted a baby and Jacob is growing up now."

Emmerdale's David Metcalfe questions his future with his fiancée Priya Sharma in next week's dramatic episodes of the ITV soap.

David and Priya are enjoying their stag and hen celebrations at The Woolpack when killer Cameron Murray interrupts the happy atmosphere by bursting in with a shotgun.

As David becomes a hostage alongside Priya and Alicia Harding, the other woman in his life, will his romantic dilemma come to a head?

Here, Matthew Wolfenden - who plays David - reveals his character's role in the Woolpack hostage week.

What were the hostage scenes like to film?
"It was scary. Dominic [Power, who plays Cameron] holding a gun at you for three days gets quite scary. To be honest, by the end of the third day it felt like we had actually been held hostage in that room. The 12 of us had been huddled up in a corner and by the end of it, I think we were all kind of believing it ourselves."

How does David end up being in the wrong place at the wrong time?
"In typical soap fashion, the stag and hen do end up in the local pub. Nobody comes to David's stag do because David has decided he doesn't really want a big do. I think the reason for that is Nikhil has left and his dad's gone off to Turkey on holiday, so there is no-one around for him to make him feel like it's worth it.

"So he ends up in the pub. Priya also ends up there as she is having a few drinks before she takes the girls out into town. We are all together in the pub and that is when things go slightly awry."


© ITV
Alicia and David


Alicia and David have a bit of a chat, don't they?
"We have seen over the past year that David has got feelings for Alicia. He is still madly in love with her. Unfortunately, he thinks Alicia is very much with Dom now and thinks she has no feelings for him any longer. So David is going ahead with the wedding, as stupid as he probably is. He has decided that he is going to do it. He thinks he is with this beautiful girl who loves him, so he is going to get married to Priya.

"David is always watching Alicia wherever she is and he is always looking out for her. In the pub that night, he notices that she has disappeared and he finds her at the door with a tear rolling down her face. She is sad, because she is thinking about what she is going to lose when David gets married. So they have a heart-to-heart conversation looking out at all the rain.

"It was a great scene. It's at that moment Alicia tells David she has decided to break up with Dom as she doesn't feel the same way. Alicia makes it obvious she can't go to his wedding as she's still in love with him. It's a big moment of realisation for David. He thinks, 'What am I doing? I am marrying the wrong girl'.

What happens next?
"Before they both go back inside, Alicia tells him to carry on and get married as he and Priya are great together. She tells him to go for it, although she does say it with a heavy heart. It is a tricky situation for him knowing what she has just said. They were so wrapped up in each other that whilst they were out there, both of them have missed the fact there is the body of a police officer lying just around the corner…"

How does David feel after what Alicia has said?
"It's a strange one for David because he does love Priya. He loves her for what she is, high maintenance, silly and he knows she loves him too. But the problem is he's actually madly in love with Alicia. I don't think he has ever fully given himself to Priya."

Then things take a turn for the worse…
"There are 12 of us that end up stuck in The Woolpack because the rain gets so bad outside that we all decide to sit it out for a bit, thinking it might stop soon. Then we hear Cameron is on the run! Of course we don't by any stretch believe he is going to turn up at The Woolpack with a shotgun, but just to be safe they do lock the pub door to make sure no-one can get in."

What happens to David, Priya and Alicia when Cameron enters and holds everyone hostage?
"David is sat in between his two girls. He is in this terrifying situation and he just wants to look after the people around him. I don't think Priya questions why David happens to have his arms around both of them as David is just being protective. If it had been Betty and Edna, I think he'd have wanted to protect them too."


© ITV
Cameron tells Chas and Zac he has come for Debbie.


Does David confront Cameron?
"David confronts him on a couple of occasions. Although normally a bit dopey and a bit daft, David does step up to the plate on this. On two occasions David walks straight up to Cameron with the gun pointing at him directly at chest height. I was pleased about him doing this, as although I love playing David when he's dopey, he showed that when it comes to the crunch he really does step up to the plate and stick up for people."

Were you excited when you received the scripts?
"Yes I was excited and I thought, 'This is going to be big'. There are a few days of build-up, then the siege itself with the special hour episode, which is all played out in real time. Everyone here is so excited about it all. There was a big hoo-haa around the live episode last year and everyone was very excited about that, but this seems to have caught everyone's imagination too.

"All 12 of us who were stuck in The Woolpack had something major to do in those scenes, and it captured everybody's imagination and the performances have just been incredible. It is going to be fantastic, I believe one of the best episodes Emmerdale has ever produced."

We know that somebody gets shot. Is it a bad injury?
"Yes it is a bad injury. I think if you were to take a direct hit from a shotgun like that at such a close distance, you would not survive for very long. It is kind of a deflected shot, into the side of the stomach of this character. It is dangerous and life threatening because if that person doesn't get out, they could die due to severe blood loss. And there was lots of blood.

"It was great to do as it's not often you get to film things like that and have all this amazing equipment with stuff that makes it look like there is blood seeping from the bullet wound. It was such good fun to film. If that person doesn't get out, they will die…"

david pick alicia and save her and let cameron kill priya

David Metcalfe's Emmerdale love triangle takes a new twist next week as he discovers that his ex-fiancée Priya Sharma is pregnant.

The village shopkeeper has recently dumped Priya in favour of Alicia Harding, but the surprising news leaves him with even more huge decisions to make.

Here, Matthew Wolfenden - who plays David - reveals how his character will deal with the situation.

What is David's state of mind after the Woolpack siege?
"David is now with Alicia but he's obviously very, very guilty about what he did to Priya - he kind of jilted her just before the wedding. I mean, you've got to feel guilty about that and he really, really does.

"In his heart of hearts, he knows that he's done the right thing. He says to Priya, 'If I marry you not only is it not fair on you, it's not fair on me, it's not fair on anyone because it's not what I really want'. He is guilty, he's very upset for Priya, but I think that he knows that he's done the right thing."

Is he optimistic about a future with Alicia?
"Very optimistic, yeah. I mean, this is it for him now. He's with the right girl, he wants to marry her, he's totally in love with her and I think that there's a good future for them. I don't think they're going to be just a flash in the pan relationship - I think he's worked for this."

There's a few more problems coming up, though…
"Of course - Priya has lashed out somewhat and essentially on Alicia's hospital bed has said, 'I'm going to break the news to Jacob that you're not his mum', and so Alicia has to break this news herself. There's no other way around it and Jacob is not happy, understandably, and he runs away."

Is it true that Jacob ends up staying at Jai's place?
"Yeah, he actually forms quite a bond with Priya and he runs off to stay with his little friend Noah. He doesn't want to come home and he says to Alicia, 'You're not my mum'. I mean, it's a big thing for him - he even says he wants to 'divorce' his mum!

"It's a big thing for a little lad to be told that your mum who you've had as your mum for 11 years is not your mum and that your real mum's your auntie. There's a lot for him to cope with. Not only that, on the back of that, he finds out about Priya being pregnant."

How does David find out about the pregnancy?
"David and Alicia have had a brick through the window - we assume that it's Priya but it's not, it's Gemma. She's doing it because she's sticking up for her dad. David blames Priya for it and so when he finds out that it wasn't her, he goes over to apologise. She drops her bag and a pregnancy test kit falls out, so it's a bit of a shock for David."

How does Priya react?
"She doesn't deny it at first because she can't deny that she's been to buy this pregnancy test. It's not until after when David comes back to see her and she's actually taken the test and she says it was a false alarm."

But the audience will know the truth - that she's actually pregnant.
"The audience knows that she is, yeah, I think the little cross appears on the pregnancy test! So, yeah, they know that she is but she says that she's not. There's so many ups and downs. It's sort of complex - she says she's not, then she says, 'Actually yes I am, but I'm not keeping it'.

"You've got to remember that Alicia can't have children, so if David stays with Alicia he can never have children naturally of his own with her. So Priya says, 'I'm not gonna be yours and Alicia's surrogate, I'm not keeping this baby'. There's lots of ups and downs."


Is David open with Alicia about this, or does he hide it?
"He does hide it for a very, very short amount of time. He doesn't tell her initially that he's seen that Priya has got a pregnancy test kit. Priya says that she's not pregnant, so there's no need to upset Alicia when she's only just come out of hospital and she's not very well. So I think that's his thoughts and then he does eventually tell her. He's very, very open about it with her because he loves her and he doesn't want any secrets."

David would like to be a dad, wouldn't he?
"Absolutely and it's Alicia who tells him, 'You need to go and speak to Priya - if you want this baby this is your only chance. If you want to stay with me, this is your only chance to have a son or a daughter of your own because I can't give you that'.

"It's incredible of Alicia to say that, and I think that's what's so clever about this storyline and this writing - because it goes totally the opposite way to what you think of in a soap storyline. You expect screaming and shouting, Alicia to storm out and leave David."

Is Alicia sad over the situation, though?
"She's saying it for the right reasons. I don't think she's particularly happy about it, obviously, but also she knows that she can't give David a baby and in this situation now, she's saying, 'You've just got to go for it, otherwise you might never be a dad'. She's doing it for the right reasons but obviously she's not 100% happy about it."


Will David make the right decision over what to do next?
"Well this is something that he actually says to Alicia. He says to her, 'Is it right that she can just have an abortion? Can she do that? Do I have no say in this at all?' And I think, no he doesn't. If she decides to go and get rid of this baby, then he has no leg to stand on. So, yeah, he's in a horrible situation. He wants this baby desperately."

Whatever happens, Alicia and Priya will have to work behind the bar together soon - which will cause more problems…
"Absolutely, and David's stuck in the middle again. He does get himself into some scrapes. Yeah, they both work in The Woolpack, so once the pub gets refurbished after the storm and the siege, then they have to go back and work together - there's going to be some fireworks I'm sure."

Could Priya get her hopes up that the baby could bring her and David closer together again?
"I think Priya thinks that keeping this baby might relight the fire between them. He tells her straight, 'I do love you, you are going to be the mother of my child but I'm not in love with you, I am in love with Alicia and that's the way it's going to stay'."

What do you think the future holds for David and Alicia?
"I think it's going to be a rocky road for a while, but I think that's fun. It's fun for us to act that - there's no story in happy ever after, there's always got to be some sort of ups and downs. But I think as a couple, they are very secure in themselves. I don't think anything is going to pull them apart, but the baby's a big test. I think that they'll deal with it together but there's going to be some ups and downs."

Does anyone know why Alicia can't have kids?

I think it's very unselfish of Alicia to kick off about Priya's pregnancy, and tell David she'll support him. I can imagine if the roles were reversed, Priya would complain.

It's a shame for David and Alicia fans, as we finally get them together, yet the minute this happens, Emmerdale want to spoil it by placing Priya and her pregnancy in between them.

Does anyone know why Alicia can't have kids?

I think it's very unselfish of Alicia to kick off about Priya's pregnancy, and tell David she'll support him. I can imagine if the roles were reversed, Priya would complain.

It's a shame for David and Alicia fans, as we finally get them together, yet the minute this happens, Emmerdale want to spoil it by placing Priya and her pregnancy in between them.

Natalie Anderson who plays Alicia says Emmerdale fans are going to be surprised by the fallout of Priya's baby news. Natalie has revealed that instead of driving a wedge between her and David, it unites them.
"You're going to see something different. They're rock solid. Ultimately she sees that as much as Priya can give David a baby and she can't, he's chosen her and that speaks volumes. David wants the baby and it's Alicia going 'I'm going to support you 100%,' it bonds them, but I didn't think it would go that way. She has insecurities, but David reassures her."

However fans are going to see scraps between Alicia and Priya.

"There are moments when Priya is really spiteful and Alicia has to do everything she can not to react, as she doesn't want to end up back in prison."



Priya really is behaving like a spoiled brat. (My words, not Natalie's!)

Natalie Anderson who plays Alicia says Emmerdale fans are going to be surprised by the fallout of Priya's baby news. Natalie has revealed that instead of driving a wedge between her and David, it unites them.
"You're going to see something different. They're rock solid. Ultimately she sees that as much as Priya can give David a baby and she can't, he's chosen her and that speaks volumes. David wants the baby and it's Alicia going 'I'm going to support you 100%,' it bonds them, but I didn't think it would go that way. She has insecurities, but David reassures her."

However fans are going to see scraps between Alicia and Priya.

"There are moments when Priya is really spiteful and Alicia has to do everything she can not to react, as she doesn't want to end up back in prison."



Priya really is behaving like a spoiled brat. (My words, not Natalie's!)

kill off priya and let david and alicia have the baby :p

It does show how childish Priya can be when she doesn't get her way. I think she should grow up! But does she keep the baby? Well I can see two sides to this with her. If she does, then it's a way to keep manipulating David and Alicia to dancing to her tune. Other side is that she'll have some competition about who is the biggest kid :D

Emmerdale couple Alicia Harding and David Metcalfe look set to take centre stage in the soap's Christmas episodes as they book their wedding for December 25.

The loved-up pair set the date for their ceremony in next week's episodes, wanting to make a commitment to each other sooner rather than later.
http://i1.cdnds.net/13/47/618x418/so...ale-6727-1.jpg
David and Alicia book their wedding for Christmas Day
© ITV
David and Alicia book their wedding.


Although Alicia (Natalie Anderson) and David (Matthew Wolfenden) are thrilled to have a joyful Christmas season ahead, they're well aware that their decision could prove controversial.

With pregnant Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade) still heartbroken after losing David, it's unclear how she may take the news so soon after her own wedding plans were left in tatters.

Viewers will see David propose to Alicia later this week due to a misunderstanding involving Jacob.

Although neither David nor Alicia had planned it, they soon decide to go ahead with tying the knot.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.

Emmerdale stars Matthew Wolfenden and Natalie Anderson have warned that their characters David and Alicia should watch out for Priya Sharma as she stands in the way of their wedding plans.

David and Alicia will be taking centre stage in an Emmerdale Christmas storyline this year as they prepare to tie the knot on December 25.

Although most of the villagers will be happy for the couple, David's pregnant ex-fiancée Priya (Fiona Wade) still cannot accept that she has lost him.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning today (December 3), Wolfenden explained: "The wedding's fantastic. It's very funny. There's things that happen along the way. Everything stands in their way so they won't get married.

"I think we're going to start seeing a weird side of Priya. I think she's going to turn into a bit of a psycho! I think we're going to see that side of Priya."

Anderson added: "I think with Priya, she's definitely in love with David. Quite why these women are falling in love with David all the time is beyond me, I'm sorry! I do think that myself!

"But [Priya] absolutely loves David, so obviously it's never going to go away because she's carrying his child, so it must be incredibly difficult for her. Even though she knows he's loved Alicia all along, she's never going to let that just go. Obviously with the wedding coming up, and she's pregnant and the hormones..."

Wolfenden also hinted that David and Alicia's wedding dramas will run alongside a much darker Emmerdale Christmas storyline.

Asked about having the big festive plot, he replied: "We've got half of it. There's another massive thing that happens on Christmas Day. Obviously we've got the nice side, and then [there's] a bit of a disaster that happens. "

Priya Sharma is annoyed when her mum meddles in her love life until she realises its making David jealous. Georgia sets her up with a hunky personal trainer called Rhys. When she knows David is spying on her, she wastes no time in arranging a date with Rhys, and agree to meet in the Woolpack.

A show insider says 'David tries not to show he's jealous but it's written all over his face, she's carrying his child after all. Alicia thinks that as she's clearly moved on then it would be a good time to tell her about the wedding but David chickens out. Priya is loving the fact she's got some control back.'

Priya Sharma is annoyed when her mum meddles in her love life until she realises its making David jealous. Georgia sets her up with a hunky personal trainer called Rhys. When she knows David is spying on her, she wastes no time in arranging a date with Rhys, and agree to meet in the Woolpack.

A show insider says 'David tries not to show he's jealous but it's written all over his face, she's carrying his child after all. Alicia thinks that as she's clearly moved on then it would be a good time to tell her about the wedding but David chickens out. Priya is loving the fact she's got some control back.'

I did read online yesterday that Leyla is back in January. Does anyone know anymore about this?

Yes, she is back in January
http://www.soapboards.co.uk/forums/s...h-January-2014

Yes, she is back in January
http://www.soapboards.co.uk/forums/s...h-January-2014

Emmerdale couple Alicia Harding and David Metcalfe will face one disaster after another as they prepare to get married on Christmas Day.

The loved-up pair are determined to have the perfect ceremony after a difficult year, but with pregnant Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade) still bitter following her split from David (Matthew Wolfenden), not everyone in the village wishes them well.

Here, Natalie Anderson - who plays Alicia - reveals what fans can expect from the Christmas wedding storyline.

How is Alicia feeling about the future with David as Christmas week begins?
"Alicia is extremely excited about her future. David has done a very, very good job of reassuring Alicia that he wants to be with her. Regardless of everything that's going on with the baby and everything else, David is being really rock solid with her, so she's really excited.

"It's basically everything Alicia has wanted. Obviously she'd never factored in Priya having a baby, but she thinks that they're strong enough to get through that."

How much is Priya's pregnancy actually bothering Alicia?
"It is bothering her, but I think it's something that Alicia has dealt with in her own mind for a long time. She knew for a long time that this could probably happen in her future with somebody else - not necessarily David, but she knew she can't have children. She's known that for a very, very long time so she's dealt with that aspect.

"Obviously it upsets her, because she wishes to God that she could give David a baby, but she can't. That bothers her, but at the same time, she's still got the man that she loves and she's still got Jacob who is the other big love in Alicia's life."

How suspicious is Alicia of Priya's intentions at this point?
"I think Alicia is starting to get a little bit suspicious, just because of a few things that Priya says. Priya starts to say things like, 'Oh, you won't really be bothered with all this, Alicia' and 'David and I have got a lot to talk about'. Alicia starts to think that Priya is trying to push her out. But it's understandable that Priya is going to feel that way and I think Alicia is grown up enough to know what the situation is and to know what's happening."
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Priya tells David to call off the wedding.
© ITV
Priya wants David back

Has Alicia considered what it's going to be like when the child arrives and starts to grow up?
"I think she has considered it, but I don't think she knows how hard it's going to be, because we don't know how Priya is going to react. Priya is very unpredictable and you never quite know where you are with her.

"Going on her own experiences, I think Alicia is thinking, 'I've managed to work things out with my ex-husband, we both see Jacob, it's fine and we've worked it out, so everybody else can be like that'. I think she's basing it on her own experience, but we don't know that Priya is going to necessarily be that way."

Priya ends up having an outburst at David's stag party. Does Alicia have any idea of this?
"Well, the next day, on the day of the wedding, Alica sees an exchange between Val and Priya and she's very suspicious because all along she is starting to feel a little bit unsettled with Priya. Again it's the fact that's she's unpredictable, and it's getting closer to the wedding so she's starting to feel a little bit nervous.

"It's Val who tells Alicia that there was a moment where Priya said she wanted David back but he told her where to go. This unsettles Alicia to the point where she's on the verge of calling the wedding off. She rings David and says, 'I don't want this all to be about Priya having a meltdown, this is our day so let's just cancel it'. David again does a very good job of talking Alicia round."

What else goes wrong in the lead-up to the wedding?
"I'd say nearly everything goes wrong! It starts off really lovely and then bang, the boiler's broken! So many other things go wrong and the only way I can describe it without giving everything away is if you can imagine David and Alicia as a pair of tennis players. There they are in practice, batting off all the balls that are coming at them very fast. They keep dropping the balls and they can't quite hit them away as swiftly as they'd want to.

"It's literally like a comedy of errors - all these different things that go wrong. I don't want to spoil it for anybody but some of the worst things that could happen, do happen!"
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Val burns Alicia's hair.
© ITV
Val burns Alicia's hair.

How would Alicia feel if this meant she didn't get married?
"I think she would be devastated. I don't think it would be a question of does David love her, I just think it'd be the disappointment on the day. It wouldn't be a case of, 'Oh my God he doesn't want to marry me', it would be, 'Oh can't we just get anything right? Can't anything go our way?'"

Do you think Priya would really try to ruin everything?
"Yes. I think she's got every reason to. Ultimately it happened to Priya the day before her own wedding. I don't necessarily think it would be about Alicia, I think it would be about David and how much he's hurt her. Essentially he's the one here that has been at fault, in the sense that he's not had the courage to say what he needed to say in the beginning.

"That has led to people being really hurt, so I think if Priya did ruin the wedding, it wouldn't be about getting one over on Alicia, I think it would just be spoiling things for David."

What were these scenes like to film? You must be used to a TV wedding by now!
"I am used to a TV wedding by now, yeah! It was good, it was really lovely to film and it's been great fun. It was very exciting getting ready and playing it all out."

Did you have any involvement in picking the dress?
"I did have a lot of involvement in the dress! I never thought I would wear anything like that personally, then once I got it on, I really liked it. I had a meeting with Sue, our head of costume at Emmerdale, and it turned out that we both had the same idea! We both had very clear ideas about what Alicia would like and what she would want.

"I don't think it's necessarily as flamboyant, shall we say, as maybe once upon a time Alicia might have picked. Being the wedding planner, I think she's learned that sometimes less is more."
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Alicia sees Priya from her window.
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Alicia on the morning of her wedding

How does it compare to her last wedding dress?
"Well, obviously with the last one I was heavily pregnant, so we had to have a different kind of dress. That was something that we envisaged that Gennie would have helped her with, because it was quite '60s and a bit kooky in its design. With this one, I definitely think this is something that Alicia has picked herself and you can imagine that she's picked it."

How would you sum up the past year of storylines?
"Crikey! It's been brilliant and I've enjoyed it so much. I've been very lucky in that one of my ambitions was to be in a rom-com. I'm a massive fan of Jennifer Aniston movies and things like that, and I feel that the way that the David/Alicia storyline has played out has been very rom-com.

"The fact that we get towards the wedding at Christmas, it's just ticked all my boxes. It's everything that I love - we've had high comedy, high drama with the shooting, and romance. It's been absolutely brilliant and I genuinely could not have asked for more. I'm so grateful for the storyline - it's been brilliant."
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Things are not going to plan for David.
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Things are not going to plan for David.

We've heard that the drama will continue in 2014... What kind of New Year will Alicia have?
"It's very exciting. 2014 is going to be a big year for all of them, really. For Alicia there's going be new elements - new sides of her character to explore, new challenges, and obviously we'll see how she gets on when Priya's baby arrives. There's obviously a lot more to go through with Jacob. And with David, how solid are they - how strong are they?"

How do you rate Alicia and David's chances?
"I think they've got a really good chance, because ultimately - like I've said all along - they are best friends and they know each other implicitly. What we've seen already on screen and what myself and Matthew have tried to play is the honesty of their relationship.

"What we hope will go forward is that they're a very honest couple, and even though sometimes they have to say things that hurt the other person, that's real life. You have to air your views and you have to be able to say what you think without throwing the towel in."


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...#ixzz2niRrEwJD

Emmerdale's Christmas special featured a surprise for fans as Leyla Harding made an unexpected return on her sister Alicia's wedding day.

Leyla was locked in a cupboard by Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) as her presence threatened to derail Alicia's big day with David Metcalfe.

Alicia (Natalie Anderson) and David (Matthew Wolfenden) finally got their happy ending as the wedding went ahead as planned, but there was little time to celebrate once Alicia discovered that Leyla was back…

Prior to the Christmas episode airing, Digital Spy caught up with Roxy Shahidi - who plays Leyla - for her first full interview about her Emmerdale comeback and what's in store.
Emmerdale: Roxy Shahidi on Leyla Harding's shock return
How does it feel to be back on Emmerdale?
"It's just really exciting. It was great going away and doing different things, but when I got the call about coming back, it couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Once I had a chat with the producer Kate Oates, we talked about storylines and I was so excited because I'm coming back to the best storyline I've ever had to play - definitely in terms of drama anyway!"

Was it always the plan that Leyla would return on Christmas Day?
"Well, initially there were talks about Leyla coming back a bit earlier, but I was doing a play at the National which was extended, so the dates didn't work out. I went away from that not knowing whether Leyla was coming back, but then when Kate got in touch with this Christmas Day storyline, it just felt like fate because it was a much better way for Leyla to come back into the show."

It's always great to get a big storyline at Christmas!
"Absolutely. I love the character of Leyla so much and even though I had my reasons for wanting to leave, I always hoped that she could come back at some point. It was important to me that if Leyla did come back it would be with a really good storyline, otherwise it would just be a wasted return.

"I was so excited and flattered to have a comeback at Christmas, because it's such a big day for the show. I was also nervous, as Leyla has been away for so long and it's such a big return. But as soon as I was on set for a couple of hours working with Matthew, Natalie and Charlie Hardwick, it was like I'd never been away and everything came flooding back."


Emmerdale didn't announce your return so that fans would have a surprise at Christmas. How did you feel about that?
"I think it's great to have a surprise - you don't want everyone to know beforehand because otherwise it just ruins it. It's been so hard to keep it a secret - as I'm talking to you now, my mum and my grandma don't know that I'm back on Emmerdale! I keep telling them that I'm doing a Christmas show because my mum keeps asking me, 'Why are you on the motorway again? What are you working on?'

"It's really hard as I can't tell them what I've been doing. The first time they will find out is on Christmas Day when I say, 'Why don't we put Emmerdale on?'"

Did you watch the show after you'd left?
"I dipped in and out, mainly as I've been at the National for the past 12 months where you start work at 6.30pm and finish at 11pm. I'd always catch up with big episodes, though, like the live episode and Sian Reese-Williams's exit, which was amazing. I tuned in for the Woolpack flood too.

"Going back into it, I think it's nice for me not to know every single detail, because Leyla doesn't know many of those things either. I'm re-exploring the village and so is she."

Is Leyla planning trouble for David and Alicia?
"I think David is definitely annoyed that Leyla has returned. The trouble is that they have such a past and it's going to be almost impossible to find some sort of peace between them.

"In terms of whether Leyla wants to split David and Alicia up, I don't think that's her intention at all. If she has got any feelings for David, they're not on the surface and they're well-buried. I think it's the same for David too, so we're not playing any romantic tension or anything like that.

"Where the drama lies is that Leyla has got such a real love for all of those characters, but the dynamic has changed so dramatically. There'll be a lot of challenges and there are massive twists and turns coming up, which are really exciting. Christmas Day is one surprise, but then there's more surprises in the New Year which end up bringing Leyla back into the village."

*ow does Leyla feel about Jacob now knowing the truth about her being his mother?
"I think she's a bit worried, but ultimately she's relieved as it's been such a massive secret. It's funny as just before I found out I was coming back, I got a letter from a viewer saying, 'This is the best-kept secret in soap!' It's really good that we kept a lid on it for so long, but it's also great that Jacob knows now. Leyla is pleased that the truth is out in the open, but that will also have its own challenges.

"Jacob is hurt as he feels that people have lied to him, especially Leyla. He also feels quite abandoned as Leyla left, so there's a lot to work through with those two, but he's such a lovely child on and off-screen, so I think they'll find a balance in their relationship. It's the other relationships that are a lot more complicated, like Leyla and Alicia and Leyla and David."

Are you allowed to say how long you're back for?
"Well, Leyla has definitely got lots of exciting stuff in the New Year. That's all I really know at the moment, but everything we've filmed so far has been fantastic. Myself and Natalie had some days filming on-location for something airing in the New Year, which will be another big twist in the story. After that, there's stuff in the pipeline but I haven't read the scripts yet!"

As you mentioned, you've been very busy with theatre work. Did you enjoy that chance to go away and do something different?
"It was really good. I'd never done a Shakespeare before, but then I played Bianca in Othello at the National alongside some amazing actors and actresses. We were on the Olivier stage which was incredible and there was an amazing cast and director.

"I'm so glad I did that, and I also did a yoga DVD which is out at the moment. I think taking on those new projects led perfectly to me feeling really ready to come back to this character with more life and excitement than I had before. Sometimes you need that little break away."

Have you made friends with any of the new cast?
"I've been working quite a bit with Fiona Wade who plays Priya, and she's lovely. She's so sweet and we've got some interesting stuff on the way. I'm involved in one of her storylines in the New Year, so I'm really lucky that we get along. We share a dressing room as well, so that's nice. I've only been back a few weeks and I've made a new friend."

Has the show changed much while you've been away?
"I think Kate's been absolutely amazing. She's really injected a new lease of life into the show and that's been reflected in viewer ratings, awards and the energy of the building. I think people feel even more excited to be part of Emmerdale, and I know going back into it, I felt like that too."


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s1...#ixzz2oWKqXWwf

I wonder will she team with Priya to try and break up David and Alicia

Emmerdale's David Metcalfe faces fresh turmoil over the next week as his baby daughter is delivered seven weeks early.

The popular shop owner will rush to support his ex-fiancée Priya Sharma (Fiona Wade) when she gives birth prematurely, before an anxious wait follows as they are left wondering over their child's health.

Off-screen, next week will be a brighter one for Matthew Wolfenden - who plays David - as he will be among the nominees at the British Soap Awards, having made it to the final 5 in the Sexiest Male category.

Digital Spy recently caught up with Matthew for an exclusive chat about his upcoming storylines and his awards nod.

How do you feel about being up for the Sexiest Male award?
"It's very flattering and a little bit embarrassing at the same time! (Laughs.) It's great that people have gone to the effort of voting. There was a public vote to decide who'd make it onto the shortlist, so the fact that people have taken the time and bothered to vote is really nice."

Have you thought about possibly winning it?
"I've got no expectations at all! I'm up against Danny Mac from Hollyoaks - as if I'm going to win!"

Emmerdale's had a great 12 months with the Killer Cameron and Woolpack siege stories. Do you think it's in with a good chance across the board this year?
"Every time I do these interviews, I was always say it could be Emmerdale's turn and we could be in with a chance - but you just never know. We always go with high expectations and generally we come away with a couple of awards, but we never get the big one. I don't think we've had the Best Soap prize in the history of the Soap Awards yet.

"We will see what happens, but I think we've had one of the show's strongest years - certainly in the 8 years that I've been here. I personally have had a great year for David as well - it's been fantastic."

You must be pleased to see Joe-Warren Plant who plays Jacob up for Best Young Performance!
"Definitely - that kid is one of my favourite people on set, as we have such a laugh together. He started on Emmerdale when he was 8 years old and he's 12 now. He's just such a great kid and he's really growing up now.

"It's usually me against the girls on set, because I've had Alicia, Leyla and Priya! It was always the girls picking on me, but I've got a little ally now and we both give it back as much as we get! I love being on set with Joe-Warren and I think he's an incredible actor. There's much more to come for him as well - I know they've got big plans for Jacob.

"I actually think, out of any of the awards that we're up for, Joe-Warren's probably got the strongest chance because he is fantastic."

There's been a real mix of comedy and drama for David this year. Which have you preferred playing?
"I love doing both. It's been great this year, because they have given me some drama to do. My character was always seen as a bit dizzy and did have a lot of comedy storylines, so the chance to be given some more dramatic stuff too has been fantastic - especially when Alicia was shot during the siege.

"We've had some good stuff recently with the inheritance storyline and us ending up fighting over money in the river, but straight off the back of that, there's some really heavy scenes ahead with Priya and the baby. Within the space of about two weeks, David goes from high comedy to high drama."

Next week, it'll be touch and go as to whether Priya and David's baby daughter survives after she arrives prematurely. Were those scenes challenging to film?
"They were - we spent a whole week filming on the hospital set for all of these scenes. It was challenging, but when you get a storyline like this which has been really well-written and well-researched, it's not difficult to find the emotion. It just works.

"When you're in that environment on the hospital set, it feels like you're in a real hospital, because you've got so many extras, doctors and nurses rushing around! I was in there doing lots of scenes with Fiona and it was really emotional. Hopefully that will come across on screen and it'll be a good week of episodes."

What's it like to work with a baby on set?
"To be honest, we haven't done that much yet! With the scenes in the hospital, we were working with what we call a 'jelly baby'. They're basically like a doll, but they're worth an absolute fortune because they're specially-made, they breathe and their skin feels real! It's quite bizarre!"

Priya has never really got over David, so will her old feelings crop up again in the next few weeks?
"I think they definitely will crop up again - I know that for certain! It's how it plays out from then that I don't really know. Priya is not very well at the moment, so a massive factor is that she just wants somebody to be there for her - and at the current time, that person is David.

"I'm not sure whether Priya is still in love with David, or whether she just wants to be with someone, but we'll have to see how that plays out over the next few weeks."

Alicia starts to feel left out once the baby arrives. Does David realise that?
"David is massively distracted by his own problems at the moment, so he doesn't really realise. That's not great on David's part, really, but he is going through a lot! He's got his baby to think about and he starts to forget about Alicia a little bit.

"But he is kicked into touch, because Alicia is a very strong girl. Let's just say that she doesn't just sit back, say nothing and let him walk all over her - she does make her feelings known!"

People always used to ask you when Leyla would return. Were you glad when she finally came back?
"Definitely! Me and Rokhsaneh [Shahidi, who plays Leyla] had so much to do together before she left. We used to be on set together all day, every day. For her to come back and be so heavily involved in this story again is just fantastic.

"I get so many comments on Twitter from people who say how well Alicia, David and Leyla work together. I think it was a really good idea bringing her back and we're all loving it."

They've spent most of their time rowing, but do you think there's any unresolved feelings between David and Leyla?
"I think that's well and truly in the past, but they love to hate each other! They share a bond and a love for each other, but I don't think it's romantic. There's always a bit of a twinkle in their eyes when they're getting at each other and it's usually in good humour, but I don't think they'll be getting back together. They might resolve some differences at some point, though!"

You've also done some presenting work for ITV in the past year. Is that something you're keen to do more of?
"It's something I'm definitely interested in and would love to do more of. Now and again shows like Lorraine will ask me if they've got something up north, which is really nice. I don't want to leave Emmerdale, though - that's my bread and butter and I love being part of the show, but it'd be nice to carry on presenting as a little sideline!"

There's just a few days left to vote for the Inside Soap Awards 2014 and among this year's nominees is Emmerdale actress Natalie Anderson in the Sexiest Female category.

The soap star has an interesting few weeks ahead on screen as her character Alicia Metcalfe gets involved in her sister Leyla's love life, but just how would she react if she knew what her wayward sibling was up to with Jai Sharma?

Digital Spy recently caught up with Natalie for a chat about Alicia's future, the awards and what's coming up for Emmerdale in general over the autumn.

How do you feel about being nominated for Sexiest Female at the Inside Soap Awards this year?
"To be honest, it's so lovely and flattering. As I've said before, I do get a bit embarrassed but it is nice and it's really lovely to be considered.

"I haven't thought about it much more than that because I honestly think I've got a cat in hell's chance of winning! I'm like the old nana compared to the other girls, but it's really sweet and lovely to be nominated."

Emmerdale won Best Soap last year, so do you think the show is in with a good chance again this time around?
"I absolutely do as I think Emmerdale has been brilliant in the last year, particularly over the summer. All I can do is applaud Mark Charnock, Verity Rushworth and Michael Parr. The Ross and Donna storyline was absolutely amazing, engaging and heartfelt. It showed different sides to so many different characters and I think that's what makes us really strong at Emmerdale as the characters aren't just one-dimensional.

"Val, Eric and their experiences with HIV was another amazing story that we tackled, showing that HIV can affect people from all walks of life. I love that our producer tackles issues that are a little bit controversial and hard-hitting, but also portrays them in a way that people may not have expected - it's not just your usual stereotypes.

"I know going into the autumn we've got even more to come, so hopefully we'll be getting stronger and stronger in the build-up to the awards."

Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have both won Best Soap prizes in the past 12 months, so it must be a boost to see the underdogs finally getting recognition!
"Absolutely - I was thrilled for Hollyoaks at the Soap Awards. I saw their explosion episode and thought it was absolutely brilliant. It's nice that we are both being recognised and the viewers are really sticking up for us. I know it's the same with all of the soaps, but when you're working really hard on the show, it's nice to just get a little bit back and a little bit of a reward. Nine times out of ten, ourselves and Hollyoaks usually don't get that, so to have that morale boost is brilliant.

"It's also great for the whole genre of soaps because the competition is wide open now and we can all fight properly for the Best Soap prize!"

Are there any fellow nominees you're rooting for?
"Verity Rushworth for sure - I would absolutely give her the Best Actress award. I'm so proud of Verity as I've known her since she was 9 and we went to dance classes together. She was the little one back then, so to see her mature into this incredibly brilliant actress and woman is fantastic. Verity is so gracious and humble but also extremely talented.

"It can be difficult bringing an old character back to the show and getting the audience to engage with them again, particularly with Donna as she left under really bad circumstances with Marlon. It's incredible that Verity made that audience perception change and I know that I've absolutely bawled my eyes out watching her scenes this year.

"I'm hoping that Verity gets Best Actress, but I also love Mark Charnock dearly and think that he's one of our best actors. Michael Parr has been fantastic too."

Alicia and David had a busy start to the year but things have quietened down a bit recently. Do they have some good stuff coming up?
"Definitely, but I think it's more on the lighter side for the time being. I think I need to put everybody's minds at rest that Alicia and David are very happy together and there are definitely no break-ups coming up! They're settled and they're staying together for the foreseeable future.

"There is a lot more fun coming up with them, though, especially with Leyla. As Leyla is involved in a lot of scrapes with Jai and Megan at the moment, David and Alicia get roped into that a little bit.

"What I'm pleased about is that the reason people really liked David and Alicia in the first place and really championed them getting together was because they are best friends. They had so much fun together and that worked. We've been able to play more of that recently, so over the next few months I'm really excited for the viewers to see Alicia and David as they were - they're having fun, they're bickering a bit and they're very much a married couple."
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Alicia and David have to break news to Leyla.
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Alicia, David and Leyla

Do you prefer it when Alicia and David are settled like that?
"It's not necessarily that I prefer it, but we had such a long time of darkness. I absolutely love working with Matthew [Wolfenden], Rokhsaneh [Gwaham-Shahidi] and Joe-Warren [Plant] when we have really deep and emotional stuff to do. They are my on screen family and we seem to bounce really well off each other.

"But because we had pretty much two years of quite dark and intense stuff, it is nice to have some light and shade. We've got the balance back at the moment."

We'll soon see Alicia start to play matchmaker for Leyla, not realising that she's having an affair with Jai…
"Yes, that's really funny and it's been brilliant to play those scenes with Matthew. It's Alicia and David who are trying to set Leyla up. It's Alicia who's being really forceful about it and poor David doesn't want to get involved, but she's cracking the whip!

"Matthew is being Matthew at his best in these scenes - he's very comic. Rokhsaneh is very comical as well so that's been really fun to film."

How would Alicia react if she found out about Leyla and Jai's affair?
"I think Alicia would be really cross, but ultimately family comes first for her. Even though Alicia doesn't agree with people having affairs and she would be very cross with Leyla for betraying Megan, she won't turn her back on her sister if she is genuinely in love with Jai.

"It's a bit of a moral dilemma for Alicia, because as much as she would be angry, she would never want her sister to be unhappy."

Will Alicia get involved in Priya's arranged marriage storyline too?
"Alicia does get involved a little bit and that's quite nice and refreshing, because Alicia and Priya have both found their feet now. They have a few heart-to-hearts and Alicia is very encouraging to Priya about the wedding.

"I've been asked before whether that's because she wants to get rid of Priya and get her married off so that she's not interested in David, but that's definitely not the case. All Alicia wants is for Priya to be happy. When Priya's happy, Amba is happy and that means David is happy.

"Alicia genuinely doesn't dislike Priya, even though she gets annoyed and frustrated with her at times. There is a common ground between them and they have been through a lot together, so they can be there for each other in a very strange way."
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Alicia confronts Priya about her feelings for David,
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Priya and Alicia

We've heard that Emmerdale are filming some massive stuff at the moment, so you are excited for what's coming up?
"Absolutely. When I heard about the things that are coming up, my mouth hit the floor and I wondered if it was a joke. There are some things coming up that are so ambitious, brilliant and so clever. I'm so excited as everything coming from the autumn up until next summer is just going to be incredible. I can't wait for people to see the twists and turns ahead!"

You've also teamed up with a close friend and launched your own red carpet fashion line, so do your co-stars approach you when the award ceremonies come around?
"They do and it's really nice! We recently dressed Nicola Wheeler as she was at a dinner for the Tour De France launch. She asked if we had anything, so we did a dress for her. We have got a few more designs we're working on now for the awards season. We're putting together a whole new collection and I've been sending little sketches to people to see what they think. It's really nice and flattering that people do ask me, and we dressed a few girls at the Soap Awards this year.

"The project has gone really well. We never launched it trying to take on the high street - we were always a small cottage industry business that would be doing one-off pieces and made-to-measure dresses. Now we're growing and we've got more plans into next year to do a ready-to-wear line. I don't want to rush anything as I like to take my time, but we're really happy with how it's gone."

Emmerdale producer Kate Oates has revealed that she is planning a big storyline for David and Alicia Metcalfe.

The popular couple have been quieter on screen over the past few months, but they will take centre stage once again in the New Year.
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Alicia and David discuss Jacob.
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David and Alicia

Speaking of her plans for the pair, Oates teased: "We've got a story that I'm excited about for David and Alicia after Christmas. For my money they've both been off screen for too long.

"I think they're two fantastic actors, so that will be happening in the New Year. I can tell you that the story will involve a bit of a curveball and hopefully raise some really interesting debate."

David and Alicia's storyline will follow a busy Christmas period for the ITV soap. This year, Andy Sugden and Katie Addyman will feature prominently in the festive episodes, as they prepare to tie the knot in the wake of Robert's return to the village.
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Andy and Katie start to think about their future
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Andy and Katie

Oates said: "We've got a really nice Christmas planned. Andy and Katie are really central to that, because their big day is approaching and that will be really lovely. Robert will be causing problems around that, definitely!

"We also have some stuff with Charity as her story is continuing and Cain will be involved in that. We'll be seeing Charity and Cain working together again, which I really love and I know Jeff Hordley and Emma Atkins love too."

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has expressed excitement over the big storyline ahead for her character Alicia Metcalfe.

Last month, the ITV soap's producer Kate Oates promised more screen time for Alicia and husband David (Matthew Wolfenden) in the New Year, when they will take centre stage with a major plot.

Anderson told Hello: "I'm definitely back into the swing of things at work now, which is brilliant after having a lovely relaxing summer. I'm involved in a very big storyline in the New Year which we begin filming very soon. I'm really looking forward to getting my teeth into it.

"My producer Kate Oates recently said in an interview that 'it would raise debate', and I completely agree. I'm extremely proud to be part of Emmerdale as I feel we push boundaries and produce fantastic drama, and I'm excited to begin playing my part in that over the coming months."

Alicia and David have had a quieter time on screen in recent months, but the new storyline will see them take their turn in the spotlight once again.

Oates said recently: "We've got a story that I'm excited about for David and Alicia after Christmas. For my money, they've both been off screen for too long.

"I think they're two fantastic actors, so that will be happening in the New Year. I can tell you that the story will involve a bit of a curveball and hopefully raise some really interesting debate."



Wonder what the storyline is ... :hmm: