ITV Emmerdale star Rebecca Sarker was saved from soap axe by scrapped storyline
Emmerdale star Rebecca Sarker - who plays Manpreet Sharma on the ITV soap - has revealed she was saved from being axed early on from the show because of a huge storyline change
Rebecca Sarker has revealed she was nearly axed from Emmerdale years ago.
The actress is best known for playing Manpreet Sharma on the ITV soap, but she nearly wasn’t able to stay on the programme. Manpreet has become a fan favourite since she appeared on the soap, and is now a firm part of the Anderson family.
Manpreet’s sister Meena Jutla was also part of a huge storyline, where she murdered several people before she was eventually caught and jailed for life. However, the ramifications still affect the whole village.
Speaking recently, Rebecca revealed she wasn’t meant to be on the soap for very long, but her opening storyline was changed at the last minute. She explained: “Manpreet was first introduced as a love interest for Rishi.
“Early on there was an idea she would cheat on him with his son, Jai. Originally she was meant to be a bit of a gold digger and a temptress, but I’m glad they didn’t go down that route as it gave the character more longevity.”
Rebecca explained she would have found that difficult as she and Chris Bisson – who plays Jai – actually starred as her brother on Coronation Street several years ago, with Rebecca playing Nita Desai and Chris starring as Vikran Desai.
“Also, Chris Bisson and I played brother and sister in Corrie 25 years ago, so I was a bit concerned at the thought of our characters having an affair!” she quipped to Inside Soap, remembering the pair’s roles in the rival soap back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
For now Manpreet is happily with Charles and sees a long future for the pair.
Speaking about what the next few months and years might hold, she explained: “Charles is Manpreet’s hero, and definitely the love of her life. They first met when she was in a very unhappy marriage with an abusive husband.
“People were rooting for them to get back together once they reconnected in the village, and they got their happy ending. She did turn down his recent proposal, only because it wasn’t the right circumstances, but it’s always been about Charles for her.”
