VILLAIN of the piece

JAYE GRIFFITHS on the joy of causing a stir in the Dales

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There are soap villains and then there is Emmerdale's Celia Daniels.

Already established as a drug queenpin who has forced youngsters April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) into dealing, the manipulative criminal, played by Jaye Griffiths, has now also been revealed as a perpetrator of modern slavery and has vulnerable people, including Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards), trapped on her isolated farm. Here, in an exclusive interview with TV Times, Jaye reveals why, at 62, the controversial role is proving a breath of fresh air...

In a career spanning 40 years, is Celia the most evil character you've portrayed? And if so, does that make her one of the most original?

Yes, and yes! The reason she is so bad is because she doesn't have empathy, nor a conscience. In that way, it is incredibly freeing to play her. All I need to do to get into character is remove care – because she doesn't care.

Her only weak spot is her son Ray Walters [Joe Absolom]. Being with him is the only time she is marginally moved or what she would perceive as weak.

Celia has a very strong look. Do you approve?

We can thank the lovely Ian Holmes [Emmerdale's costume designer] for that. When I saw it hanging up on the rail, I was like, 'Oh my goodness!' I love my stick – that's coming home with me. Celia has obviously looked up what farmers wear and gone, 'I'll wear that.' But she's never done any farming in her life; she doesn't do dirt!

You auditioned for the part opposite Dominic Brunt, AKA Paddy Dingle. He said that you had a 'hiccup', but then composed yourself and were 'electric'. Tell us more...

I dried. When you do that, it means your thoughts aren't clear. And the reason they weren't clear is that I was freaking out.

'I LOVED THIS PART FROM THE MINUTE I READ IT'