Gemma Oaten is returning to 'Doctors' after 13 years to bid farewell to the soap that gave her her start in acting.
Gemma Oaten showed off her character Dani's look
The 39-year-old actress has an episode called 'The Lairy Godmother' coming to the BBC One Soap - which has been cancelled by the broadcaster after 24 years, due to financial issues - next Monday (05.02.24), in which she will play the role of Dani.
It's a "full-circle moment" after Gemma - who is best known for playing Rachel Breckle on ITV's 'Emmerdale' - landed her first screen role as Sam Doyle on 'Doctors' in 2011.
She began a lengthy Instagram post: "Super excited to share some telly box news!
Hello from Dani who will be appearing in @doctorsbbc next Monday 5th Feb!
Absolutely buzzing to be asked back to the show that gave me my 1st ever TV role within 2 months of graduating from Drama school, some THIRTEEN YEARS AGO!
What's even crazier is, it is aired almost 13yrs to the day of that debut back in 2011. (sic)"
She went on to share how she "grafted like no other" to land her original 'Doctors' role, after finishing therapy for an eating disorder, and shared an empowering message about never giving up on your dreams.
Gemma recalled: "Having graduated from drama school already signed to an agent, I knew I was one of the luckiest. But then, I also worked damned hard. Having finished my last therapy session in 2009 for treatment of the eating disorder, I grafted like no other, especially as I'd nothing to lose. I'd already almost lost my life 5 times and I was finally grabbing my time. So to then get the role of Sam Doyle in #Doctors it was a dream come true. Cast by the amazing @brettfallis who literally changed my life, as 4mths after my debut aired, I was cast as Rachel Breckle in @emmerdale. (sic)"
Gemma is "sad" that the show that helped so many rising actors has been scrapped.
She continued: "This is the thing about Doctors, it was a training ground for so many up and coming actors and they gave us a chance. So to be able to return before it ends for good is such a blessing, tinged with sadness of course, as we lose such a brilliant show and platform. (sic)"
Gemma added how she loved getting to show off her "comedy chops" playing Dani.
She wrote: "Ahead of my TV debut I decided to write to up to 100 casting directors and producers with a twist... My GP who had supported me and helped save my life over 13yrs with the #eatingdisorder, allowed me to have a blank prescription page so I could invite all to watch me (see pics) and the rest is history.
Now I'm back to say 1 final goodbye to the show that changed it all. What a full circle moment for me. 1 I will never take for granted. Never forget where you started and always allow yourself to embrace how far you've come, no matter what that looks like.
As you can see - "Sam" versus "Dani" couldn't be further apart and I'm so excited for you to see my episode "The Lairy Godmother" as it was so much fun and I got to embrace my comedy chops! I was bouncing off the walls on set daily... She is quite a character! I'll say no more and leave you to watch. (sic)"
Gemma concluded: "Key message? Dont ever give up on your dreams, and, more importantly, yourself...
You matter (sic)"
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