G MOMENT TONIGHT IN BOAT SHOWDOWN FIGHT
ng Moira, for helping to make him able and taking him under her wing ng.
“I’ve been really lucky having e Nat J Robb there as a mentor. She’s ho has become a great friend as well een really nice.”
Jurell loves his new role, he has te a bit of a backlash from viewers between one of the soap’s most ples, dubbed “Coira” by their army not all been negative, I’ve had some really lovely messages, and people sending me their drawings of Nate.”
And on those more cheeky messages, he says: “It’s obviously really flattering.”
Despite now being at the heart of one of the soap’s biggest storylines, Jurell actually auditioned for the role of bad boy Billy Fletcher last year, a part which eventually went to Jay Kontzle.
But he’d done enough to impress casting bosses as they asked him back to play Nate.
Whispers
Jurell says: “I was seen for the part of Billy and was a bit gutted when I didn’t get it. I’d also met Jay during the audition process.
“But now, having watched Billy’s character develop, I was definitely more suited to Nate, so it all worked out.”
Jurell is also still getting used to the recognition which comes with being on such a big show.
“I’m still the same Jurell but sometimes I forget that I’m on this massive show,” he says.
“I’ll be at home in Leicester in my local supermarket and just forget. I’ll hear these little whispers and then get people coming up asking for selfies, which is all really nice but so surreal.
“There’s also quite a bit of banter about Moira.
I also get it from my mates and brothers because she’s an older woman. But for me, it happens and it’s real. There are lads out there who like an older woman.”
In tonight’s explosive double-length episode, Cain, played by Jeff Hordley, lures Nate and Moira out onto a boat in the middle of a lake after his discovery of what they’ve been up to behind his back.
He confronts Nate and they fight – then a leaky petrol canister catches light and puts all three of their lives in danger.
Jurell says: “It was like filming a movie. We had stunt coordinators helping us with the fight scenes, and of course there’s an explosion.
“Nate sees Cain as this old man, he doesn’t know about his reputation as this village hardman but even if he did he wouldn’t care.”
Viewers will also be left stunned by a huge twist at the end of tonight’s episode but Jurell will only say: “There’s so many theories out there but when the audience see it they will be shocked.
“I found out about it when I was first cast and I was like – wow. I don’t want to spoil it but it’s a massive reveal.”
● Emmerdale’s hour-long tonight on ITV at 7pm. special airs