Actress Pauline Quirke to join Emmerdale

[Abigail]

Actress Pauline Quirke has signed up to join the cast of ITV1 soap Emmerdale, it has been announced.

The star, who is best known for her role in the comedy series Birds Of A Feather, will play Hazel, the mother of Aaron's love interest, Jackson.

"The show has really moved on; it's consistently good, there are some great characters and great storylines," Quirke said.

The actress starts filming next month and will appear on screens in August.

"I'm really looking forward to joining the show. My mum was a fan back when it was called Emmerdale Farm, so it's always been a part of my life," Quirke said.

"I've never done anything like this before so it's something different for me and I'm very happy to be a part of it."

Series producer Gavin Blyth revealed the actress will become part of an "enormous and gripping storyline" this autumn, which will involve Jackson and Aaron.

Since Birds Of A Feather ended in 1998, Quirke has starred in several TV dramas including The Sculptress, Cold Blood, Carrie's War and Missing.


From the BBC.

[Perdita]

Former Birds Of A Feather actress Pauline Quirke has joined the cast of Emmerdale as Jackson Walsh's mother Hazel.

The 50-year-old - who played Sharon Theodopolopodous for nine years alongside Linda Robson in the BBC One sitcom - begins filming at the soap's Leeds home at the end of next month and her larger-than-life character soon finds herself at the epicentre of "an enormous and gripping storyline".

Free-spirited teacher Hazel arrives in the Dales on a whistlestop visit to see her son Jackson (Marc Silcock), who is currently being wooed by troubled teen Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller).

However, as one newly-single villager takes a keen interest in her, Hazel's jetset lifestyle is halted when she becomes embroiled in a "hugely dramatic" plot that affects the lives of both her son and his lover.

Speaking of her signing, Quirke said: "I'm really looking forward to joining the show, my mum was a fan back when it was called Emmerdale Farm, so it's always been a part of my life. The show has really moved on, it's consistently good, there are some great characters and great storylines, I've especially loved Aaron's story."

She added: "I've never done anything like this before so it's something different for me and I'm very happy to be a part of it."

Series producer Gavin Blyth commented: "I am absolutely delighted that Pauline will be joining Emmerdale at such an exciting time. She is a fantastic actor who I know will do justice to this character."

He went on: "Alongside Aaron and Jackson, she will be at the centre of an enormous and gripping storyline this autumn/winter. One to really look forward to."

Quirke's other acting credits include Skins, Casualty, Cold Blood, The Bill and My Family.

More recently, she starred as DS Mary Jane Croft in a second series of BBC One's daytime drama Missing.

[Choccie]

cant wait - really like Pauline Quirke

[Katy]

I like Pauline Quirke as well. My favorite thing of hers was when she was in that country one, was it Down to Earth.

[tammyy2j]

She will be a good addition to the cast

[heardki]

Can't wait, she is a good actress.

[tammyy2j]

I wonder does she know Jackson is gay and does she support him

[lizann]

He went on: "Alongside Aaron and Jackson, she will be at the centre of an enormous and gripping storyline this autumn/winter. One to really look forward to."

Holly's drugs storyline maybe

[tammyy2j]

Is she to become a new love interest for Doug?

[kayliee94]

twitter message by mark silcock 1 july

"Just finished at the village with my new mum off to the gym and then a chill out I think. "

not long