Charlie Hardwick "misses" her 'Emmerdale' co-stars.
Charlie Hardwick
The 58-year-old actress portrayed Val Pollard on the ITV soap from 2004 to 2015, and while she enjoyed her time on the show she felt the need to depart the Dales after spending more time as her character than her own self.
She said: "I miss my old comrades but we keep in touch. It was great working in West Yorkshire again because I got to hang out with some of them.
"I loved playing Val but I was spending more time as her than me! So after 12 years, I felt it was time to explore new creative avenues. And look what came my way."
Charlie - who made an 'Emmerdale' return as a ghost in 2017 - will star as food technology teacher Sue Carp in the new series of school drama 'Ackley Bridge' later this year, and the star was pleased to see a familiar face as part of the crew.
She added: "I'd never worked with any of the actors before but I knew the make-up designer Lisa very well as we'd worked with each other on 'Emmerdale' for years.
"Being made up by an old friend was a lovely start to my first day."
Charlie couldn't wait to portray her character upon discovering she is a "professional nightmare".
She said: "The scenes I was sent for the audition captured my imagination instantly. They were brilliantly written, very near the knuckle but very funny.
"I thought this woman is a nightmare, let me at her.
"She's not exactly the model professional, is she? No, she's a loose cannon and a professional nightmare."
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