TV legend who has appeared in all the soaps reveals why she said yes to Emmerdale

Denise Welch has opened up about her forthcoming Emmerdale appearance, revealing what attracted her to the role.

Earlier this week, Metro confirmed that the Loose Women panellist would be popping up in an episode next month, meaning she will have appeared in all four of the big soaps.

Denise will appear alongside former Coronation Street stars Jack Ellis and Charles Dale as  Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Tom King’s (James Chase) domestic abuse storyline reaches its conclusion.

It will bring an end to over a year of horror for Belle, who has suffered at the hands of her twisted partner’s abuse and coercive controlling behaviour, with the episode highlighting the real-life voices of domestic abuse victims and survivors.

Speaking about her role on Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women, Denise said: ‘It’s a one-off one hour special and it’s the first time Emmerdale have ever done it. And for those of you who are fans of Emmerdale, there is a very powerful year-long story of domestic abuse.

‘Which of course, appealed to me when I knew I’d be part of it because [Loose Women’s domestic abuse campaign] Facing It Together, and this is a culmination of that story.

‘So the episode takes place exclusively between the court and the jury and I am one of the head’s of the jury called Heidi.’

Denise continued: ‘Obviously I can’t say what the outcome is but it’s a very very powerful episode and some of the lines are taken from true cases.

‘Refuge have seen it and they’re thrilled with how it’s been depicted so it was incredible to be a part of it, and that’s on I think December 19.’

Denise has previously appeared in Coronation Street from 1997 to 2000, where she played Rovers landlady Natalie Barnes, before appearing in a 2016 episode of EastEnders, playing Kyle Slater’s (Riley Carter Millington) mum Alison Slater.

From 2021 to 2022, Denise also had a regular role in Hollyoaks as dance instructor Trish Minniver.

On having now completed the set with her Emmerdale role, Denise joked: ‘I saw on social media that I’m now a CHEE and that’s because it’s quite something in America to be an EGOT which is the winner of an Emmy, a Grammy, and Oscar and a Tony.

‘So not quite that level, but Corrie, Hollyoaks, EastEnders, and Emmerdale.’

Meanwhile, it has also been rumoured Denise is set to stage a return to Waterloo Road.

Earlier this week, The Sun reported the actress would be reprising her role as French teacher Steph Haydock in the school-based BBC drama next year.

She originally played the character when the show launched in 2006 until 2010.