Birstall actress to play love interest in Emmerdale

And the Birstall-born actress has made a return to our screens – this time in Emmerdale as the new love interest for Ashley Thomas, played by John Middleton.

Tracy, who has been cast in the role of Carole, made her debut in the show last week.

“I am really enjoying the part and the team of writers are fantastic coming up with some great storylines,” she said.

“John and I have know each other for years from the Labour Party and that was a big part of me coming to the show.

“It is great to be working with friends.”

Carole’s arrival in the village has sparked a love triangle involving the former vicar.

Ashley was reluctant to introduce Carole to his friends but the village’s current vicar Harriet, played by Katherine Dow Blyton, intervened and text Carole from Ashley’s phone.

But Harriet’s meddling backfired when things went too well for Ashley and Carole and Harriet realised she had feelings for him too. Tracy, who was born in Howden Clough, said: “Carole is a complex character and a very sexy older woman.

“ She is still a live wire and up for the craic.

“She offers something different as there is quite a dark storyline going on at the moment with Donna’s cancer battle. But Carole offsets that and brings some va-va-voom to the show.”

Tracy played cleaner Tricia Armstrong, who had a baby with Terry Duckworth, in Coronation Street from 1994 until 1997.

She appeared in the West End last year in The Full Monty, which was brought to the stage by award-winning director Daniel Evans.

On her return to soaps, Tracy said: “You are never as famous as when you do the soaps, even when you are in the West End.

“Since I was in Corrie I have continued to write and work, but it has been nice to be recognised by the general public again. It is fantastic to engage with them and get their reaction to the show.”