'Emmerdale's Carly Hope's "tragic and really upsetting" backstory is set to be revealed next month.

Gemma Atkinson

Gemma Atkinson

Gemma Atkinson - who plays the blonde beauty in the ITV soap - has warned viewers to get their tissues at the ready from February as her alter-ego, who arrived on the Dales last year, is set to open up about her heart-breaking past.

She explained: "You're going to find out a lot more about her history. What's happened to her is quite tragic and really upsetting. And, unfortunately, some people will have been through it themselves. It's horrendous. So it's one of those storylines where I've had to do a lot of research because it's going to play across the whole of this year."

However, this year won't be all doom and gloom for Carly as she's also set to find herself a new male love interest.

Gemma explained to the RadioTimes.com: "It'd be nice for her to settle with someone. We've come up with three potential suitors for Carly. And the storyliners are now looking at all the tiny details of whose backstory would match with hers, rather than just plonking me with someone. They want to make sure its right. But I get on with all three of the potential boyfriends really well. They're all great."

And 2016 is also getting off on the right foot for Gemma as she's been nominated for this year's Best Newcomer gong at the National Television Awards (NTAs).

She said of her nomination: "It is a weird one. I've had a few people say to me, 'You're not a newcomer, you've been doing this for 15 years!' But I am a newcomer to 'Emmerdale'. When they said I was shortlisted, it felt amazing. I couldn't believe it. It's good news."

Tagged in