No more Mr Nice Guy for me

Emmerdale star John Middleton can’t wait to play a villain after 20 years as the show’s nice guy vicar.

The actor went out in a blaze of glory last month in a heart-rending storyline as dementia- gripped Ashley Thomas.

It helped Emmerdale land the best soap gong at the TV Baftas last Sunday.

But now John, 63, fancies a change and says: “I’d love to play something that’s a total contrast to Ashley, a character that doesn’t meet the audience’s expectations.

“One who you think is a great guy, then all of a sudden you think, ‘Hang on, did he just do that?’ That part would be great, to play the villain.

“I’ve had a number of good conversations with people high up within ITV.

“The next job will be the most important in my career. It will be defining the rest of my career.”

But unt i l then he’s relaxing.

He said: “I’m having a lovely break. Everyone says you look well, you look like you’ve been outside.

“Yes, I haven’t been in the studio all day. I’ve been seeing the sun. They’ve finally let me out.”

As wel l as the Baf ta success, John is nominated in almost every category of the TV Choice Awards.

He a dded : “We ’ r e absolutely delighted. It’s a real group effort. The Bafta capped off my 20-year career on Emmerdale.

“It was a fantastic way to go out. It’s an amazing year for the show.”