There’s a new face in the Dales this week as actress Paula Wilcox joins the cast of Emmerdale playing the part of Hilary Potts, Laurels mum.

One of Paulas first scenes was a car crash, so understandably her first few scenes don’t contain much dialogue.

Paula tells The Manchester Evening News:

“So I don’t have many lines in the first few episodes,” laughs Paula. “The people at Emmerdale asked me if I’d be interested in doing it and sent me some scripts. Duncan and I had already played husband and wife a few years ago in Murder In Suburbia, so it was really nice.”

She continues: “It’s difficult joining something where you’re not one of the regulars and everybody else has been doing it for ages. It’s like jumping on a rather fast moving conveyor belt. Everyone else knows what they’re doing and you don’t - like jumping into the middle of a dance.”

“But they’re an extraordinarily friendly lot and made it very easy and pleasant. They’re all so busy, I wouldn’t have really blamed them if they’d just got on with what they were doing and expected you to slot yourself in somewhere. But everybody made a great effort to be friendly and help you settle down.”