Angela Hazeldine has been cast in Emmerdale for a storyline involving Samson Dingle's prison release, marking her sixth soap role. The actress previously appeared in the Yorkshire Dales as farmer Lara in 2018.
A veteran of British soaps
Hazeldine's most prominent soap role was in Channel 5's Family Affairs, where she played Gemma Craig for four years from 1999 to 2003, leaving before the show ended in 2005. She returned to soaps in 2008 with a role in Doctors, before her first Emmerdale stint. In 2019, she played a social worker in Hollyoaks, and in 2020 she appeared as Karen Glen for three episodes of Coronation Street.
Outside acting, Hazeldine is also a musician. She sings and plays keyboards in the band Circus Electric, which formed from the demise of her previous group Shepherd's Pi, and she also performs as lead singer of Secluded Sea.
Why Samson Dingle is in prison
Samson's legal troubles began after he befriended newcomer Josh Cope (Osian Morgan). Josh initially seemed a positive influence but soon revealed a darker side, harassing Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson) and transphobically terrorising her husband Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano). An altercation at the Hide turned into an attempted robbery, and with Matty holding a knife, Josh shoved Samson into him, causing the stabbing.
Despite knowing the stabbing was an accident, Josh manipulated Samson into reporting Matty for intentionally knifing him, leading to Matty's arrest and imprisonment. In prison, Matty faced danger as he tried to hide his identity as a trans man. After Amy accidentally outed him, he arranged to be beaten by his cellmate to secure a place on the hospital wing before other inmates could harm him.
The Dingle family fractured over the incident. Matty's mother Moira (Natalie J Robb) fought to free her son, while Samson's father Sam and stepmother Lydia (James Hooton and Karen Blick) supported Samson. Eventually, Samson confessed to the truth, was charged with perverting the course of justice, and sentenced to four years in prison.
Samson's release looms
This week, Moira learns that Samson is due for release and that the Dingle family plans to welcome him back, much to her disgust. Upcoming scenes will see Matty try to convince her to forgive Samson.
