A former Oldham Coliseum actress is set to join the cast of Emmerdale.

Paula Lane, a former Coronation Street actress, 37, will play Ella Forster, who ITV have described as “compassionate and caring”.

Last year, Lane appeared in an Oldham Coliseum production of Lancashire playwright Jim Cartwright’s Road, which premiered in London in 1986.

The play ran from September 16 to October 1.

The Oldham Times: The poster of last year's production of RoadThe poster of last year's production of Road

Now, Lane is set to make her Emmerdale debut. At a veterinary ball, her character Ella is set to stick up for Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and lose her job.

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Mandy will be at the event with her partner, Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt).

Ella soon meets local doctor Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) which will lead to an “opportunity” in the forthcoming episodes.

Lane said: “I’m so excited to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. Everyone has been so welcoming and I can’t wait to start a new chapter playing the role of Ella.

“I’ve already heard there are big plans for her and I can’t wait to see her navigate a new life in the village and hopefully make some friends.”

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She previously played Kylie Platt, who was married to David Platt on Coronation Street, until she was killed off in a fatal stabbing in 2016.

 

Lane has also appeared in several theatre productions in the last few years.

As well as her Coliseum role, Lane played Queen Bess during Big Clock Productions’ stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and #BeMoreMartyn at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.

Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks said: “Ella is a complex and multi-layered character who comes to the village and certainly makes an impact.

“Ostensibly she’s a good, moral character, but is there more to her than meets the eye? We are absolutely thrilled to welcome an actor of Paula’s calibre to the show and we can’t wait to have her light up our screens.”

Emmerdale will begin filming with Lane this month.

The soap airs on weekday nights at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.

This article includes reporting from Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please email me at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.