Joanie (Denise Black)

[Perdita]

Noooo, I hope not

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Denise Black has revealed that she is revisiting her singing roots after finishing filming on the soap.

The actress joined the cast earlier this year for a guest stint as the adoptive grandmother of Amy Wyatt's son Kyle.

Speaking on Daybreak this morning (November 7), Black spoke about her plans to star in a new stage show.

She said: "It's called Birth of the Musical. It's brand new and I'm learning it at the moment - it's 90 minutes on my tod with Graeme Taylor, who plays guitar, and my hubby, who's on the piano.

"It's songs from the end of the First World War to the beginning of the Second.

"I actually gave [singing] up for a while. When I had the kids I thought, 'I'm spreading myself too thin', so I did the soap and I did the TV dramas. I've been on the road for a while but now I've gone back."

Black has already filmed her final scenes on Emmerdale, which will be aired next week, as Amy's and Joanie's storyline reaches a conclusion.

Speaking about her time on the soap, Black said: "I've had a fantastic time there. It's really on song at the moment. The scripts come through and they're great. The producer is fantastic, everybody you work with is happy. What more could you ask for?

"Obviously Chelsea [Halfpenny], I'm really serving her storyline. She was brilliant to work with. She's so different [to Amy] - she's soft. She's going on to great things."

[Perdita]

Emmerdale will welcome back a familiar face next month when Denise Black reprises her role as Joanie Wright.

The actress has already returned to filming at the ITV soap and show bosses have lined up a dramatic reintroduction for Joanie.

Denise Black as Joanie Wright in Emmerdale
© ITV
Denise Black as Joanie Wright

Regular viewers will remember that Joanie is the adoptive grandmother of Cain Dingle's son Kyle. Cain fathered Kyle in a one-night stand with Amy Wyatt in 2011, but wanted nothing to do with the youngster afterwards.

Joanie still has custody of Kyle, but her fortunes have taken a turn for the worse since her last appearance on screen in late 2013.

Now living in temporary housing and struggling to bring Kyle up, Joanie will decide to make contact with Cain to ask for some money to help with a flat deposit.

Cain agrees to help Joanie, but her bad luck continues when she is mugged and loses the cash.

Joanie is at rock bottom when she heads back to the Emmerdale village to share her latest misfortune, but while Cain is furious to see her, the Dingle family may do the right thing by coming to her rescue in her hour of need.

Speaking of her Emmerdale return, Black commented: "I am very excited to be coming back to Emmerdale. It's a lovely show to work on and I'm well set for Joanie's revival.

"I bet she has learned a thing or two since we last saw her. Is she still a single grandma? Has she changed? How is Kyle? I can't wait to find out."

Emmerdale will air Joanie's return on Wednesday, June 17.

[Perdita]

Emmerdale star Denise Black has revealed that viewers will see a sharper side to her character Joanie Wright when she returns next week.

Upcoming scenes will see Joanie contact Cain Dingle, who is the biological father of her young grandson Kyle.

Joanie still has custody of Kyle, but she has hit harder times since her last appearance on screen in 2013 and is currently in a dire financial state.

Speaking about her character's return, Black said: "She has had to toughen up. What we have got is a sharper Joanie because you don't bring up a kid on your own without some common sense coming into your life.

"Joanie has got to go on a journey, personally. Looking on the outside, I think she was a little softened up by comfort and then she lost her daughter so she was grieving and she gained a child.

"I think she has got to learn a lot of lessons in order to survive 100%. She has been trying to do it on her own but we are going to see the transformation.

"This isn't just her and a kid locked up in a house together - this is a whole community. It will be interesting to see what happens to her."

Black also revealed that she was delighted when she learned about her return storyline, adding that Joanie has a good reason for being bought back in.

She said: "Nobody told me the story, I just accepted the job but the moment I got the scripts, I was thrilled because they gave Joanie a real need to be here in Emmerdale.

"It isn't like another actress turning up who was in it before with no good reason - she has such a strong need.

"Never forget that she is motored by the fact that she is a parent of a very young child, extraordinarily at her age. She will do anything to protect that kid, who by the way is the same kid - it is Huey Quinn."

Confirming that Joanie will not want Kerry involved in Kyle's life, Black added: "100%, no. No Kerry, no Amy.

"I don't think she has even thought about Kerry. She doesn't think it will be a problem but I think it will be."

Emmerdale airs Joanie's return scenes on Wednesday June 17 on ITV.

[Telly Watcher]

Emmerdale spoilers: Joanie Wright will be stunned when Zak Dingle kisses her again

Is Zak about to ruin his happy marriage to Lisa?

By Daniel Kilkelly, Digital Spy
3 December 2015

​Emmerdale's Joanie Wright enters into very dangerous territory with Zak Dingle later this month as they share a second kiss.

Joanie is once again left stunned as Zak (Steve Halliwell) makes another move on her, struggling to resist temptation despite the fact that he still loves his wife Lisa.

Upcoming episodes of Emmerdale will see Zak become even more smitten with Joanie as she prepares to sing at the opening of the new village hall.

Zak is bowled over when he witnesses Joanie's undeniable talent in her rehearsal, but his support is starting to stray beyond the realms of friendship.

Denise Black, who plays Joanie, revealed: "I genuinely don't believe that Joanie realises how strongly Zak feels about her. There is no sense that she is being divisive or manipulative here. I toyed with those ideas, but it wouldn't serve the story.

"Joanie is the genuine article. I don't believe that anyone has paid her any attention in terms of admiring her in a long time, so it's almost not in her remit. She's a white-haired lady bringing up a kid!

"When Joanie is preparing for her performance, she realises that she has got nothing to wear and she's in a tizz about it. Zak so sweetly gives her a hand and takes her off to a dress shop. She puts on a dress and she just looks fabulous.

"It's too expensive for Joanie to afford, but Zak gives her some cash. Joanie promises that she'll pay it back, so it's still just within the bounds of friendship but they're in a dangerous zone now.

"But even at that point, I don't think that Joanie acknowledges the chemistry. There has been a kiss already, but they've absolutely agreed that there'll never be another."


© ITV
Zak buys Joanie an expensive dress

Despite currently being in denial, everything becomes crystal clear for Joanie when Zak kisses her again after watching her perform on stage that evening.

Joanie plays with fire by responding to Zak's advances, but she soon rushes off when she realises that they can't carry on betraying Lisa like this.


© ITV
Zak is smitten with Joanie after hearing her sing

Black continued: "The kiss is so romantic. I was up all night wondering how we were going to do it! I was quite worried about it. As older people, we don't go down to the gym and viewers don't want to see us with our clothes off, so I was concerned about how we'd fulfil the script.

"God bless the director, because he'd thought it all through and the kiss is so pretty and so emotional. I don't know what the young ones will think - anyone who kisses over the age of 40 is disgusting if you're a kid!

"I hope people will just see that you're still a human being when you're older and you're never written off. I personally think that's what is so fascinating about the story. You get to a point in your life where you're done and dusted, all the decisions are made and you do not expect to fall in love. But that's the territory Emmerdale is taking Joanie and Zak in. Poor Lisa!"


© ITV
Zak and Joanie kiss

As Zak ponders his next move, Joanie starts to plan her exit strategy by lying that she has bagged a new job singing in a posh hotel. She spins the false tale as she is looking for any excuse to get away from the temptation of Zak.

"It's dreadful for both of them," Black explained. "This is the second time they've kissed, so they've shifted a gear and they can't pretend anymore. Zak absolutely still loves Lisa, so it's a mess.

"Even when I come off set, the people watching on the monitors hiss me because I'm toying with soap royalty, so what I'm fighting for is to see where Joanie comes from. She's not a siren who's looking to muck around with people's lives, she's salt of the earth and this is the most dangerous situation that she's been in."

Emmerdale will air Zak and Joanie's next kiss on Wednesday, December 16 at 7pm on ITV.

Read more at:
http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emme...ses-her-again/

[alan45]

Interview with Denise Black

Has Joanie enjoyed her time in Emmerdale so far?
We are both connected on this one; we’re having a ball! From Joanie’s point of view it’s heaven. She was a woman who was so isolated, then she came to the village and suddenly had this huge family.

Is she enjoying working at the factory with anyone in particular?
Lisa and Joanie are getting on well, they have a lot in common. They genuinely do, which is good because me and Jane do too. Joanie doesn’t like working there though, it’s crap, she just does it for the money.

We get to see Joanie singing later this month, tell us about that
There’s a shock! I wanted to know whether Emmerdale was going to pick up my six month option so I had a meeting with Kate Oates and she said yes and then asked how I would feel if it was revealed Joanie’s a bit of a singer. I loved it! Although I stayed up at night thinking about what her style would be, it couldn’t be anything ghastly. I have to say that when it came to doing it I was so nervous my mouth went dry, and that’s never happened to me before. I was that scared!

Is Joanie aware that Zak has feelings for her?
No, I genuinely don’t believe that she knows his feelings for her. At no level is she trying to be divisive or manipulative. She’s genuine. I don’t think anyone had paid her any attention for years, so it’s almost like it’s not in her remit. She’s a white-haired lady bringing up a kid, what she responds to is kind hearts, and both Lisa and Zak have kind hearts.

Zak takes her dress shopping for her performance, what happens?

None of her clothes fit so she’s got nothing to wear. Zak sweetly offers to help her. It’s just the most touching thing, for someone to notice you and have faith in you. But that’s dangerous territory. She puts on this dress and looks fabulous. Zak sees her and goes, ‘Wow!’. He’s got cash in his pocket and spends it on her

Is she still unaware of the chemistry between them at this point?
I think she still doesn’t acknowledge the chemistry between them. There has already been a kiss but they agreed that there will never be another and it was just one of those things.


"Wednesday 16 December 2015 At the village hall, Zak Dingle [STEVE HALLIWELL] hears Joanie [DENISE BLACK] singing on stage and becomes even more smitten with her. Once she’s come off stage Joanie, heads out to get some air and soon Zak and Joanie kiss. Joanie comes to her senses and scurries off, leaving Zak a mass of emotions over what's just happened.

It’s so romantic! I was up all night thinking how we were going to kiss! I was worried about it, as older people we don’t get down the gym and no one wants to see us with our clothes off, so I was concerned how you fulfill the script. God bless the director, he had thought it all through and it’s so pretty and so emotional
Zak’s awkward around her the next day…
The thing is, it’s not the first time so now they have shifted a gear. If you are a responsible person then you have to get out. I think Zak still loves Lisa, it’s all a mess. Joanie takes life into her own hands and makes a decision.

How have people reacted to Zak and Joanie?
I come off set and people hiss at me! I’m getting hissed out in my own working environment because I am toying with soap royalty, that’s the way I see it! This is the most dangerous situation she’s been in in years.Have you enjoyed the storyline so far?I’m having a ball. It’s not the first time I have tangled with soap royalty because I have also tangled with Ken and Deirdre Barlow! This is so different because Ken is a serial romeo whereas Zak is a one woman man.

[lizann]

cant believe she abandoning kyle with kerry to go off with zak to ireland

[sarah c]

cant believe she abandoning kyle with kerry to go off with zak to ireland

wonder if she comes back and Zak stays to give Steve Haliwell a break?

[Telly Watcher]

Denise Black admits she ‘gave up’ on life – but her new regime has ‘saved her’

She looks glamorous in her foxy Emmerdale role as Joanie – the temptress who has lured married man Zak Dingle away from his wife, Lisa.

But actress Denise Black has admitted that it has taken a lot of work to get into the shape she is in now – and having had a lot of health problems in the past, she even feared that she was destined to end up in a wheelchair.

However, she is now living by a brand new exercise and healthy eating regime which she claims has saved her – and when we caught up for a chat with her, she was looking positively glowing as she talked enthusiastically about the changes she has made.

Here’s what she had to say:

You’ve lost loads of weight since you came in to Emmerdale. What have you been doing?

I started working out. It was actually before I came in. I’ve had some really bad health issues. I was in an accident, I had some back troubles and I did what an awful lot of women do in middle age – I just gave up. I thought: ‘Sod it, my body’s turning into an older person, I’ll stay young in my head’. But that doesn’t work, does it?

So I met an absolutely brilliant lady in Brighton. With my arm issues as well, and she said: ‘I’ll take you on’ and that’s it. And I’ve just been jogging and I’m dead! [Laughs]

You look fantastic.

Oh thank you. God, I can’t bear it but I do feel better. Mentally I feel better and I feel stronger mentally because my body’s a bit stronger.

What kind of exercise do you do?

Oh sweetheart, you should see me! Well I started jogging on Benidorm and in that heat when I was filming Benidorm, up the hill, my God it was hot. And power walking.

And then I went on to… she’s worked it for me, I haven’t been able to do it for a year but I’ve got a Pilates ball. I do all sorts of strange things on a Pilates ball. I’ve got a flexi-bar, I could demonstrate but I’ll leave it to your imagination.

I cycle to work. I’ve got a fold-up bike. They all know me – they’ve agreed, security have agreed that they’re going to one day let me come in and they’re going to open all the doors so I can just cycle from the outside through ITV Studios. I’d like to do that!

Would you say that the woman from Brighton has saved you?

Of course she has. And I don’t mind saying her name – her name is Jeannie Hignell. And what happened was, when I was doing Emmerdale last time, I was having the most terrible back troubles. I was not in a good space, because it’s a very long journey… and you’re always dragging a bag.

And I was going to see masseur because I was stiff and I hurt and I felt old. I said: ‘I’ve got to get fit. You’re a fit young thing, come on, help me’. She said: ‘No I won’t, but I know a woman who specialises in women of a certain age’, that horrible phrase! And there she was and she’s youthful at 64, God bless her!

Did you change your diet, exercise, have a new life plan?

Yeah. She didn’t believe in ‘losing weight’, so I just addressed my habits. And also, because this is another by-the-by story, but I did Celebrity MasterChef. I’m the fool who thought they taught you to cook! And I went in not able to cook and I’m absolutely gobsmacked I got as far as I did, but I was so ashamed of serving up raw fish that I’ve become a really, really good cook. I’ve really studied and that’s affected how I eat as well. I’m a bit of a foodie now.

What were your bad habits and downfalls?

Snacking. Snacking all the way through the day and it’s a mum’s fever – if you’re not making a meal for someone else, it doesn’t matter what you eat, does it? So cheese and biscuits was probably my downfall, bizarrely. And crisps, just standing and grabbing something and you’re not eating healthily.

Do you feel better? Is your back better?

Yes. I hadn’t been able to run, I had been told not to run, absolutely told. I really, really did get into quite a bad space quite a long time ago. And I was working with multiple back injuries. For a while I thought I was going to be in a wheelchair and I certainly was never going to run – and look at me.”

You can see it on screen. She’s looking foxy on screen.

Well that’s the story shifting her that way.

But you’re giving off something that you weren’t before.

I do my best! You’ve got to fight, you know, when you’re in a Dingle love triangle!

By Duncan Lindsay for Metro.co.uk
http://metro.co.uk/2016/03/29/emmerd...d-her-5778757/

[Telly Watcher]

Joanie Wright and Belle Dingle’s feud explodes into violence once again as Belle continues to antagonise her nemesis, finally pushing her too far.

As Joanie’s ring goes missing, she suspects that Lisa has taken it out of spite and when she voices these allegations, Belle jumps to her mum’s defence.

Soon, the two women are sparring at the factory and it’s not long before Belle is getting personal with the woman she blames for the breakdown of her family.

But this time, as Belle’s cruel words hit a nerve, Joanie lashes out and slaps her hard across the face.

As Belle recoils in horror, Zak has witnessed everything – and Joanie can’t believe what she has done.

Speaking of the slap, Denise Black, who plays Joanie, told Metro.co.uk: ‘I think that Joanie probably defends herself because she probably feels quite bad complaining about how Lisa’s dealing with everything, whereas secretly understanding it’s an impossible situation.

‘Belle’s flipped out on me a few times. She’s gobbed on me, in one of the most awesome flobs on television. And she’s beaten me up in the street. She’s not best pleased! I don’t know that Joanie knows how to get Belle back on side or if it’s possible. I think she must think about disappearing…’

But what will Zak’s reaction be? Will he defend Joanie’s actions or will he stand up for his daughter?

And could this be the last straw which tears the new couple apart?

By Duncan Lindsay for Metro.co.uk
http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/09/emmerd...hings-5802852/

Emmerdale airs these scenes on Thursday, April 21 at 7pm on ITV.