It breaks my heart that people are alone at Christmas

Widowed and alone, Emmerdale's Kim reflects sad reality for many

- CHRISTINE SMITH

Soaps always ramp up the drama at Christmas, with family fallouts, betrayal and even murder on the festive menu.

But for many people across the country, the hardest thing about the season is something which does not always make for great TV - loneliness.

Emmerdale is hoping to change that this year with a storyline about Kim Tate, exactly a year after her husband Will died from a heart attack.

Actress Claire King hopes the plot helps to shed some light on the 1.4 million people in the UK who will be eating Christmas dinner alone.

Claire, 63, says: "It breaks my heart. I know Christmas is essentially a Sunday lunch that seems to go on for months.

"But, for those on their own, it's a heartbreaking time. It's always important to pop round to see people to make sure they are alright with a little pudding or some sloe gin - that's what I will be doing."

As well as losing Will, Kim is also dealing with the end of her friendship with Lydia Dingle, who organised an illegal shooting party on her land.

The fallout left Kim on crutches and killed her horse, Ice.

Claire says: "It's a sad time for Kim. It's been a year since she lost her husband, Will, and she has had this big fallout with Lydia.

"She is now on crutches because of everything that went on and she is helpless. It's a real bah humbug moment.