NOW IT’S PRIYA’S TURN TO BE BAD!

Fiona Wade on how her Emmerdale character is finally done with being a doormat

Emmerdale’s Priya Kotecha finally says goodbye to her life as a doormat this week by dumping her waywa rd husba nd Rakesh. And Fiona Wade, who plays Priya, says it’s the beginning of thrillseeking new times for her character.

For the best part of a year, Priya stood loyally by Rakesh as he resorted to desperate measures to get out of a financial nightmare, including setting fire to Mill Cottage in a botched insurance scam. But last week, after the arson secret became public, Priya snapped and turned to her best friend Leyla’s man, Pete Barton, for comfort.

‘Priya feels everyone has this idea of her as a doormat wife who supported Rakesh in doing this terrible thing,’ says Fiona, who’s played her since 2011. ‘She stuck by him through thick and thin but it’s got her nowhere. So she thinks, “This isn’t who I am,” and decides to get back a bit of her old exciting self by living dangerously.’

Priya’s adultery will spark a summer of high drama in the Dales, starting this week when she tells on-therun Rakesh she’s a cheat and no longer loves him. ‘Rakesh thinks she slept with her ex, David Metcalfe, and jumps to conclusions about why she doesn’t love him any more, so he doesn’t react well,’ says Fiona, 38.

Rakesh threatens to tell police Priya helped him unless he’s given cash. ‘He’s got nothing; he’s lost Priya, he’s lost his family, he’s got no money, and he’s a desperate man, so, Rakeshstyle, he resorts to desperate measures to survive,’ says Fiona.

However, the police are called but Rakesh escapes, leaving Priya to face the music. ‘It’s scary,’ says Fiona. ‘She either tells all to the police and lands herself in it or says nothing and hopes they can’t pin anything on her. It’s a tough call, and a thrilling cliffhanger.’

At the same time, Priya’s friendship with Leyla Harding will be threatened by her infidelity with Pete. And the situation will become even worse when Leyla takes pity on Priya and invites her to move in with her and Pete. ‘Priya just can’t say no,’

says Fiona; it’s super awkward.’ But that won’t stop her fling with Pete. ‘It’s not a one-off, and gets very complicated. As an actress you want that drama, so bringing back Priya’s more dangerous, exciting side is great.’

She’s not sure how viewers will feel about her doing the dirty on Leyla, however. ‘They probably feel sorry for her because Rakesh has lied to her over and over, but now she’s sleeping with her best friend’s partner I’m not sure how they’re going to react!’

Off- screen, Fiona’s love-life is nowhere near as dramatic as Priya’s, and she’s currently single. But, she says, that allows her to focus on her work. ‘I’m really happy, I have a great life, I’m busy with Emmerdale and I’m positive about the future.’