Ian Kelsey, who played Dave Glover in Emmerdale, has revealed he would welcome a return to the soap, possibly as his character's twin brother. In an exclusive interview with Heart Bingo Online, the actor discussed his time on the show, the pressures of 1990s fame, and the behind-the-scenes mishaps that came with filming dramatic scenes.
Fame and the 1990s Soap Phenomenon
Kelsey joined Emmerdale in 1994 as the charming young farmhand Dave Glover. With the soap regularly attracting millions of viewers each night, he became an instant sensation, and his iconic curtains hairstyle and distinctive bushy eyebrows won him a devoted following.
Reflecting on his sudden stardom, Kelsey said: "From what I remember, it was brilliant and stressful all at the same time. It all happened very quickly because, back in the mid-90s, you were talking 12 to 14 million people watching an episode, as opposed to maybe three or four million now. That's a lot more eyes on you in everyday life."
He added: "Even walking around supermarkets, you'd get people passing you saying, 'Oh, I know who he is!' It's still lovely when somebody recognises you and you can stop for a bit of a chat, tell them a few little stories about what it was like back in the day on Emmerdale."
A Legacy of Hair and Death Scenes
Kelsey's hairstyle left a lasting impression, even on England's former goalkeeper. "It's funny, because if I let my hair grow long, I get recognised for Emmerdale instantly because of the hairstyle I used to have," he said. "I remember speaking to former England goalie David Seaman at a charity golf day for his charity, Safe Hands. He told me the reason his hair used to be really long with a centre parting was because of my hair! So I was responsible for the England goalkeeper's '90s hair. Mad!"
Since Dave Glover's dramatic fiery demise in 1996, Kelsey has built a reputation for memorable soap opera deaths. Despite this, he remains open to resurrecting the character or exploring a new twist. "I wouldn't mind getting back on Emmerdale and coming back from the dead. Or coming back as Dave Glover's twin brother. I'd be grateful for that," he said.
Behind-the-Scenes Mishaps
Kelsey, who spends time on set with his partner Beth Cordingly (Ruby Fox-Miligan), has discussed the idea with writers. "I have spoken to a few writers. They've said it has been mentioned before. Claire came back from the dead. Claire's husband, who's on it now, came back from the dead. So, you know, maybe I'll come out of the shower like Bobby Ewing!"
He also recalled a memorable riding scene with Claire King, who played Kim Tate. "Before Emmerdale, I'd had horse riding lessons for the film Black Beauty, although I never actually needed them. But when the Emmerdale producers found out I could ride, they wrote a scene where I was cantering across a field with Claire King," he explained.
"She was an experienced rider. The trouble was, I couldn't go any faster than a canter! Claire was supposed to race past me, then we'd meet at a fence and have a scene together. But as soon as she shot past, my horse pricked its ears up and thought, 'Hey, we're having a race here!' And suddenly it started galloping! I'd never galloped before."
The scene ended with the sound engineer in tears of laughter. "All he could hear through my microphone as I went across the field was me grunting! I made sure I got all my lines out in the right order because I wasn't doing that again," Kelsey said.
