Patsy Kensit is returning to Emmerdale as Sadie King, more than 20 years after the character last appeared on screen.
The actress first played Sadie in 2004, remaining in the role until 2006 when her character teamed up with Cain Dingle in an attempt to destroy her own family. Cain double-crossed her, prompting her exit from the village. Sadie was also Jimmy King's glamorous and scheming wife before he moved on with Nicola, and her earlier storylines included a house explosion and affairs with a young Robert Sugden and Cain Dingle.
Returning with an agenda
At her first Emmerdale press event since leaving the show, Kensit teased what viewers can expect from Sadie's comeback. "I loved playing Sadie 20 years ago. I had such fun with her and the writing was so good, and we just created this absolute monster! I used to live vicariously through her because I would never, ever talk to anybody like that. So I just had so much fun."
She went on: "It's delicious the stuff we get to do, but I'm here until December so there's loads that we can hopefully enjoy!"
Producer Laura Shaw said it was important to remember that this is Sadie 20 years on. "She's been away from the village, there's a lot going on. You'll see when she initially comes back, she's kind of seen as the same Sadie King that she always was. But, as the story develops you'll see a different Sadie... Maybe we'll see a little bit more of a vulnerable side that we didn't see when she was last on the show."
A bittersweet side
Details of Sadie's return storyline remain under wraps, though Kensit has promised plenty of drama. Asked about how Sadie has changed over the years, Kensit joked: "She was probably birthed by a Jekyll! She's so awful. But I think there's a pretty bittersweet side to her and it'd be nice if that comes through, but she's still a cow!"
The actress also enjoyed performing scenes with Claire King, who plays Kim Tate, teasing that the pair took it "old school." She called the role one of her favourites, adding: "She's just delicious and I'm really proud to have been allowed to create this character and have been so well loved."
When asked whether Sadie has an agenda, Laura Shaw laughed: "It's Sadie King, of course she's got an agenda! The reason that Sadie comes back is going to absolutely shocking. Whether all is quite as it seems we shall see as the story progresses, but it's going to be pretty big and pretty shocking."
How to watch
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX and YouTube from 7am.
