“The challenge will be massive!”

Hi, Karen! Would you be daunted if Lydia did test positive for Huntington’s?

It’d be a double-edged sword, as it would be a fantastic story to get my teeth into, but it’d be a huge challenge. On the other hand, Sam and Lydia are a wonderful couple – they bring out the best in each other. They can have fun, but there’s a heart to them, so it’d be lovely for them to have a bit of happiness.

How is it being back at work post-lockdown?

I thought I’d be more daunted going back, I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it as much, but actually it’s more rewarding because I know how difficult the challenges have been for the production team. Emmerdale being back up and running is an amazing achievement. The whole atmosphere is really positive, and everybody’s just working very hard.

Would you like to see more of Lydia’s mum and sister?

Oh, yes. Judith Barker, who plays her mum Agatha, is exceptional – she’s a wonderful comic actress, but she also brings gravitas to the role. Then Jeanette Percival [aka Lydia’s sister Beth] is a fantastic actress. We worked together 10 years ago for a theatre company, so it was lovely to work with her again.

We know you enjoyed your two-hander episode with James Hooton (Sam). Which other villagers would you like to see do a similar episode?

Charity and Vanessa. It would have been a really interesting relationship to explore while Vanessa’s going through treatment for cancer. Michelle Hardwick [Vanessa] is playing the storyline beautifully, and Charity is a fantastic character. The dynamic of those two being in lockdown would have been a really interesting episode.