Emmerdale reveals new Home Farm dynasty - The Maceys

[alan45]

Emmerdale has revealed the new dynasty that will reign at Home Farm when the Wylde family empire crumbles.

With Amanda Donohoe (Natasha Wylde), Alice Coulthard (Maisie Wylde) and Lyndon Ogbourne (Nathan Wylde) all exiting the ITV soap, it has been confirmed that Declan Macey, played by Jason Merrells, will take over the estate.

However, Declan - who joined the soap in April - will also be joined by his "somewhat dysfunctional" family who "sweep into the village ready to make their mark on Home Farm".

Famed for his role as Father Jack in Father Ted, Frank Kelly will play Declan's "eccentric and quick-witted" dad Dermot, who arrives in the village when his houseboat sinks.
Dermot is described as having a "mischievous streak" and the ability to wind his son up the wrong way.

Kelly said: "I'm a big fan of the show so I'm looking forward to making myself at home in The Woolpack! Dermot is a real character and I can't wait to get started."




Former Doctors actress Corrinne Wicks has joined the cast as Declan's estranged wife Ella. The sexy and savvy businesswoman is determined to win back her ex-husband as she returns from Singapore, where she runs a lucrative chain of nail bars.

"I'm so thrilled to be joining the fantastic cast of Emmerdale," Wicks said. "Ella is going to be great fun. She's feisty and glamorous with a no-nonsense attitude. I can't wait to get started as the Maceys make their mark on the Dales."

Meanwhile, never far behind Ella, is daughter Mia, played by Britannia High star Sapphire Elia. Fun-loving and carefree, Mia promises to turn a few heads upon her entrance.

"I'm so excited," Elia said. "Emmerdale is such an established and well-loved show and it's a brilliant opportunity for me."

She continued: "Mia is full of fun and I can't wait to see what she's going to get up to."

Emmerdale series producer Gavin Blyth added: "I'm so pleased to be welcoming three superb actors to our cast at this exciting time.

"The Maceys are glamorous and dynamic, and their move to the big house signals a new era at Home Farm which will see them firmly at the centre of some of our most compelling storylines."

The Maceys will begin to arrive on screen from November.

[alan45]

So there we have it. With the Wylde family's reign at Home Farm drawing to a close, the new dynasty has been revealed. Delcan Macey won't have much time to enjoy the peace and quiet though, as his ex-wife Ella, their daughter Mia and his father Dermot all arrive in the village. I caught up with actors Jason Merrells and Corrinne Wicks to find out more about Declan and Ella's relationship, why she wants him back and what she thinks of the wallpaper in Home Farm.

How does it feel to be joining Emmerdale?
[CW] "[I'm] very excited. I truly am, I'm not just saying that. 'A' because it is a job and 'B' because it is a great show. I'm very new. I've only done four scenes so far. I met Jason just the other day. I've met my new family today, my daughter and father-in-law. They're just great, great actors. We've got Father Jack! That is very exciting."

How did you find walking onto the Home Farm set for the first time?
[CW] "Amazing! I only had one audition and that was a screen test, and I thought I would just be sat there like a normal audition, but it was on set, full crew - actually in Home Farm. So that in itself was quite exciting. The fact that all the sets are next to each other - the Dingles' front room is next to ours!"
[JM] "We actually sleep in the Dingles' (laughs)."
CW "It does look rather comfy. I haven't actually been to the village yet. I'm not sure when my first visit there will be, but in a couple of weeks I think. So I'm really excited to see that because I didn't even realise that it is purpose-built."
[JM] "It's beautiful up there. That's really nice actually, that it's not in a studio. You'd get a bit claustrophobic as soon as you go up to the village or out on location, things just slow down slightly to old-fashioned filmmaking and it's a bit nicer."

Jason, how did you feel when you found out that you were taking over Home Farm and were being joined by a family?
[JM] "I think it was always mooted when I joined that that was the idea behind the character, that he eventually take it over. It was never clear how that was going to happen. At the time it wasn't even clear how they would get out of the Wylde story, who would be left there or what happened. So that was all up in the air but that was definitely the plan, that they wanted him to eventually take it over. And then as I continued to work, the idea came up of an ex and a daughter and they sort of finished, what I think, is a really quite funny and believable story of how she arrives. In a way Declan is hoist by his own petard. He tries to be very clever in the way that he gets his hands on the estate legally, which Ella becomes involved in. Then she ends up in the place because of how he has manipulated events. So I think there is a kind of justice in him being forced to confront his ex-wife in that situation, in that place. I think it is going to be quite funny as there is unfinished business between them and it's going to be a lot of fun driving that top-of-the-village story with a little bit of humour and a little bit of romantic comedy, for want of a better word, rather than the terrible murder mystery that has been [going on] for a while."

What can you tell us about the circumstances surrounding Declan and Ella's split?
[JM] "The way I imagine it is that we would have been geographically separate because of our businesses, drifted apart, not spoken, and because we are so driven, feisty and defensive, we probably played brinkmanship with each other over the divorce: 'Are you calling it?' 'No I'm calling it' - and eventually found ourselves getting divorced and being split apart without really examining what happened."
[CW] "Without intending it perhaps. Obviously we have a daughter who we both very much love and are very close to so there has been constant contact, but Ella lives in Singapore so there is a lot of distance between them."

Ella wants to win Declan back - how is she going to achieve this?
[CW] "Well, look at me! (laughs) He's not going to put up a fight for long, surely! I think she will use everything in her armoury to get him back. She's a determined lady. She is not after his money as she is fairly financially secure with her own nail bars. A very successful chain of nail bars! She's going to move into Yorkshire and set up some more very successful nail bars, so she's not after his money - she is after a man."

What do you know of Ella's relationship with Dermot, her father-in-law?
[CW] "Well, there is [a relationship] there. Although Declan and I are divorced, I think we've been in constant contact with Dermot. I think Mia and Ella are very close and adore him. The three of us are quite a strong unit, which [Declan] doesn't like too much. We love Dermot!"

If it works out for Ella in the village, do you think we could be seeing her parents or other family pop up?
[JM] "Jesus! (laughs)"
[CW] "Well, I've got a lot of unemployed actor friends that need jobs so yes! I don't know actually. I think it's very early days and we're quite a unit, just the four of us. I suppose if they keep me, there is always the potential that there could be other relatives crawling out of the woodwork."

Do we know if Declan's mother is alive?
[JM] "I don't think so. On a job like this, all the balls are always in the air. We all try as actors to nail our backstory as much as we can, but it is very difficult to do that when the producer wants to keep some things in reserve in order to make you bring something forward. You have to be pretty flexible about how you define your past. But I would say, my hunch is that she is not around. I would say that that is what we are working with at the moment."

So what else is coming up for Ella and Declan?
[CW] "I don't know actually, I've only read a couple of scripts!"
[JM] "There are a lot of disputes over the interior decoration, let's put it that way."
[CW] "There is that! I quite like it as it is actually. I was looking round the other day and it's got some nice wallpaper. But Ella doesn't like it, she wants the whole thing changed."

[alan45]

Remember the drunk priest in Father Ted who harped on about "drink!" and "girls"?

Thankfully, his repertoire extends far beyond that - as Emmerdale fans will soon see when actor Frank Kelly joins the rural soap.

The Irishman, who played foul-mouthed alcoholic priest Father Jack Hackett in the sitcom, has been cast as Dermot Macey, the eccentric father of businessman Declan Macey (Jason Merrells).

He joins the show along with Declan's ex-wife Ella, played by Corinne Wicks, and the former couple's daughter Mia (Sapphire Elia), who all move into Home Farm in the wake of the Wylde empire's demise.

Frank insists his new character is nothing like Jack.

He said: "He's not that kind of guy. He wouldn't swear. He's a pretty cool dude with a bit of a twinkle in his eye and he likes pretty ladies."

Actress Corinne is thrilled to be working alongside Frank - for a rather special reason.

"When I got married five years ago I walked down the aisle to the theme tune of Father Ted, so I'm very excited," she said.

Ella and Mia hit screens in November, while Frank joins the soap a month later.

Series producer Gavin Blyth said: "The Maceys are glamorous and dynamic, and their move to the big house signals a new era at Home Farm, which will see them firmly at the centre of some of our most compelling storylines."

[Katy]

yay, father jack! i love Frank Kelly and this oviously means he got the all clear from his cancer which is great news. I liked that Sapphire Ella as well when she was in dream team i think it was. not brittania high as she was awful in that but that was probably due to the awful writing!

[tammyy2j]

Father Jack on Emmerdale

[Chloe O'brien]

Come on he's got to stand in the Woolpack yelling "drink" "girls" All we need is Mrs Doyle.

[Perdita]

Former Father Ted star Frank Kelly has opened up over his new role in Emmerdale, admitting that he is glad to have a regular acting job once again.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the Irish actor had signed up to play Declan Macey's (Jason Merrells) eccentric dad Dermot on the Yorkshire soap.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, Kelly revealed that he has signed a one-year contract but would consider a longer stint with the programme.

The 71-year-old explained: "I'd only know if I wanted to stay after the year's up, but it's very well-paid work, and with our economy and the state it's in at the moment, it's very reassuring to be asked to work for a year for really good money."

"The man I'm playing is Irish but not overtly 'oirish'," he continued. "There will be no leprechauns!"

Kelly added that one downside of the job will be spending so much time away from his wife Bairbre.

He said: "We're devoted to one another and I hate being away from my lovely wife and family. I'm hoping to be back each weekend. But it will give me some insurance against this rocking economy."

Kelly will make his first appearance in Emmerdale later this year.

[Perdita]

WENNJason Merrells has hinted that Emmerdale fans can expect Home Farm to be the setting for "funnier" scenes once his screen family take over the business.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Merrells's character Declan Macey is to take charge of the estate, where he will soon be joined by dad Dermot (Frank Kelly), ex-wife Ella (Corrinne Wicks) and Ella's daughter Mia (Sapphire Elia).

The new era for Home Farm comes as the remaining members of the Wylde clan prepare to depart the village in the weeks ahead.

Speaking about what is in store over the coming months, Merrells commented: "There is a whole family being landed on me and the way that each of them arrives is quite interesting.

"I think the producers are looking for a different tone at Home Farm now, less intense and a bit funnier than the brilliant but intense stories of the past."

Discussing Declan's relationship with Ella, the actor added: "Perhaps they got divorced too quickly. He's been trying to work and build a future without her and I think it's the last thing he expected.

"But I think there is something still there between them. The main thing about their relationship for me is that hopefully it will be funny. They have quite a lot of banter with each other."

Ella makes her first appearance in next Wednesday's episode of the ITV1 soap

[Perdita]

Emmerdale's new recruit Corrinne Wicks has revealed that she wants her character to do "a lot of flirting" on the show.

The actress has been cast in the role of Declan Macey's ex-wife Ella, who causes a stir next week when she helps the businessman to get possession of Home Farm.

As Ella becomes an established face on the ITV1 soap, fans will see her aiming to win back Declan - but whether she will be successful remains to be seen.

Discussing the pair's bond, Wicks explained: "It is a love-hate relationship. They have stayed in constant contact, particularly because of their daughter. Declan has been over to Singapore because Mia has a motorbike accident and I think seeing each other has sparked something between them again.

"Ella wants to pursue it. She's going to fight for her man. There is a lot of feeling between them. There is an irresistible pull but they drive each other mad."

The star added: "She also gets bored easily and so if Declan won't play ball, she's not going to hang around. I'm hoping there's going to be a lot of flirting! There are some good-looking guys on this show!"

Jason Merrells, who plays Declan, recently confirmed that fans can expect "funnier" scenes at Home Farm once his screen family take over the estate.

[alan45]

Emmerdale actor Jason Merrells has said that his character Declan Macey is keen to win back the affections of his recently arrived ex-wife.

Viewers of the Yorkshire soap will see Declan enlist the help of estranged partner Ella Hart, played by Corrinne Wicks, in securing Home Farm from a reluctant Nathan Wylde (Lyndon Ogbourne).

Merrells told the soap's official website: "Does Declan want Ella back? I think he does but he doesn't recognise that himself at first."

He continued: "He's still got his armour up. He's just had this quite unnerving relationship with what turned out to be a murderess, so he's still reeling from that.

"And when she first appears he's still in battle mode and wants everything straightforwardly simple and she's confusing things."

Merrells added that Declan "falls under [Ella's] spell quite quickly", despite her ability to provoke him.