‘I don’t want bedroom scenes. I’ll leave that to the youngsters!’

Emmerdale’s Claire King on returning to the show after 20 years and why she’s not keen on raunchy scenes

Long-term Emmerdale watchers had quite the wait for the return of one of the show’s greatest icons, Kim Tate. She left in 1999 by helicopter – and it was nearly 20 years before Claire King returned to the role that made her a star. But it wasn’t long before she was gone again, sent back to prison!

Now, Claire’s at the centre of a huge storyline that’s set to run for months. Kim’s son Jamie (Alex Lincoln) has got Gabby (Rosie Bentham) pregnant. And while he wants nothing to do with the baby, Kim likes the idea of a new grandchild to continue her empire.

Here, we catch up with the soap icon, 58, to find out more...

Claire, does it feel like a very different show to the one you joined back in 1989?

I always say to them,“Will you stop writing so much for me because I’ve got so many lines to learn.” You are constantly learning lines, it’s a 24/7 job. And they say,“No, because we love writing for you!”I’m really enjoying it but it’s hard work. When I first started it was only two episodes a week.Then it went to three. Now, I’ve come back to six and a half. Not only am I menopausal, I’m arthritic, which doesn’t help with the old brain.This extra workload is not good for the brain at my age.

How’s it been getting to know new castmates like star] Andrews, who plays Kim’s recent love interest Will?

[Life On Mars

Dean

I love him. He’s moved to just round the corner from me out in the country, because he wanted peace and quiet. But of course, because we can’t meet up for a drink or anything, we haven’t been able to socialise. But we get on great. Sometimes you think,“Oh gosh, what are they going to be like?”But we have such a laugh. It’s the same with Alex, who plays Jamie, and Anna [Nightingale], who plays Jamie’s ex Andrea Tate. We were texting and FaceTiming in lockdown. It kept me in the loop before I could come back.

We haven’t had scenes of Kim and Will in bed together, like when she was caught romping with her young lover Dave Glover back in the day...

The lack of on-screen intimacy is down to coronavirus and social distancing, as we are filming with the two-metre rule. But I must say, I’m happy at my age not having to do bedroom and snoggy scenes. I’ll leave that to the youngsters nowadays. I think people want to see young people doing it, not older people! It’s just nice working with professional people who you get on with and can have a bit of banter with. I think I’ve kind of moved on from all that now.

You arrived in 1989 as part of the Tate clan alongside Leah Bracknell, who tragically died of cancer in September 2019 at just 55. Did losing her make you take stock?

Yes it did. It was a tragic loss. Everyone who knew her knew it was going to happen, it was just a matter of when. Unfortunately, she’s not the first of my friends and she hasn’t been the last. And particularly now with this awful coronavirus, we’ve lost more people. But I learnt that lesson a long time ago.You have to enjoy life as much as possible. Live life and treat others with respect. And don’t take life for granted because something like that can happen at any time to any one of us.

Kim was meant to have died, until the show’s producer persuaded you to stay after you quit in 1996...

I’m sure they regret when they kill people off, because if they don’t, the character can always go back and settle a few scores. There are probably quite a few people who want to settle scores with Kim! So I came back from the dead. I said,“Well they’re burying me on Monday, so you’ve got to come up with a deal for me if you want me to stay. And I want some time off.” That’s why I’d left, and they were killing me. I’ve got the plaque from Kim’s coffin in my loo! It’s a bit morbid, but I had to do it!

Emmerdale, Monday to Friday, ITV ‘This workload is not good for the brain at my age!’

Emmerdale’s Kim with her son Jamie and Gabby, who is pregnant with his baby

Martine, 44, has worked hard to renovate the house.“I love making things look beautiful – I’ve always felt a home should be a place to feel comfort and inspiration, and it’s always lovely if you can get it to reflect who you are,” she said.

Martine was revealed as the Swan on the latest series of The Masked Singer. She has a music room at home and her singersongwriter hubby Jack McManus, 36, is the ideal person for a duet.

Storage solutions have never looked so stylish, thanks to these Fortnum & Mason wicker picnic hampers. Rafferty has added his own touch by balancing one of his toy cars on top.

Her modern white kitchen features an island with a “party” sign. And it looks as if Martine’s got the memo – she’s poured herself a cocktail!

Martine says she loves the “cosy feeling” of her home. The fireplace is adorned with photos, flowers and candles, giving just the vibe she’s after.

The back garden has rattan furniture for alfresco breakfasts on sunnier days, as well as a lovely lawn for the star’s two dogs to run around on.

The family have two dogs – Freddie, named after Martine’s favourite performer, Freddie Mercury, and Harry, after Prince Harry because of the colour of his coat.

Her themed monochrome dining room, complete with an oval marble table, is a beautiful space for the whole family to catch up at mealtimes.

Martine and Jack share their home with their adorable six-year-old son Rafferty, who ensures there are no ghosts lurking in the house.