A six-month return to the Dales
Patsy Kensit has confirmed her Emmerdale comeback as Sadie King will last six months, keeping her in the village until December. The actress, who calls Sadie one of her favourite roles, says it felt like she had never been away thanks to the welcome from cast and crew.
'It feels like yesterday, but it was 20 years ago!' she told Metro. 'And yeah, it's just brilliant. I'm loving it. It's very busy, very hectic, lots to do, lots of dialogue to learn but it's great.'
She also made clear that the stint will be packed with drama: 'It was a hard yes when I was approached and I knew what they were going to do, it's a six month contract so I'm here 'til December and it's going to be all fun and games and explosive!'
The shocking secret behind her return
According to Kensit, the reason Sadie is back is a massive shock that will leave audiences reeling – and that's far from the only twist. 'There's a huge shock of why she's back and how Sadie is now,' she teased. 'I can't give too much away so it's frustrating because there's so much I want to tell you, but I can promise a lot of shocks and revelations and twists and turns and betrayals and pleading for forgiveness. It's a plethora of wonderful, wonderful stories. Everything you want from Sadie King!'
Producer Laura Shaw doubled down on the promise. 'Of course, she's got an agenda. I think what I can say is the reason that Sadie comes back and the secret that she comes back with is going to be absolutely shocking, and 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!'
She added, 'I think probably the most shocking thing is definitely the reason that brings her back. It's undoubtedly one of the biggest secrets we've ever had within the King family and it's going to be pretty explosive.'
Fireworks with Kim Tate
With both Sadie and Kim Tate now in the village, a clash is inevitable. Kensit revealed the two divas have already shared their first scene. 'We had a scene the other day in the street and that was the first time we ran into each other – and it will not disappoint! We took it old school!'
In fact, she promised chaos, exclaiming, 'I've been slapped to sh*t!' – confirming hopes for some serious cat fights.
A vulnerable side beneath the scheming
While Sadie remains manipulative and deceitful, Kensit says audiences will see a more human side to her after two decades. 'She does manoeuvre and pit people against each other in possible romance situations. She tends to want to make one jealous and she is manipulative, definitely,' she explained. 'I think it's fair to say the last 20 years has definitely changed Sadie, but let's face it, it's Sadie King. She's got the same qualities running through her core, and there's not masses going to change that.'
Now 58, Kensit is keen to explore what life is like for Sadie at this stage. 'We want to find out about the real person because, obviously, that's really interesting for me to play and for the audience to see where she's, is in her life,' she said. 'I mean, like I said, it's 20 years ago. I'm 58 now. I'm nearly 60, and, you know, what does this woman really have and what does she really value? But I think that that's interesting to explore as a woman and with the things that we go through in life and are going through the change and all of that stuff.'
'And she's on her own essentially, does she have brothers? Sisters? Father or a mother? She was probably birthed by a Jekyll, she's so awful. But I think there's a bittersweet kind of side to her, and it would be nice that maybe that comes through. But she's still a cow!'
Encounters with old flames and new faces
Sadie's past with residents like Robert Sugden will be revisited. Kensit recalled working with actors old and new. 'Karl who played him back then was just so professional and wonderful, so we kind of reconnect when I come back over some things. And Ryan's been really funny, and Chris Coghill, he just makes me howl, he's just so brilliant.'
She also praised the supportive atmosphere on set. 'When I came back, I didn't know how the cast would be after 20 years, and it's such a family, the pastoral care here is a second to none. You don't get it on other shows, they just kick you in the arse and then it's "let's go home!"'
A producer's dream
Laura Shaw admitted that bringing Sadie back lets the show reconnect with some of its most iconic storylines. 'As you know, I'm a massive fan of the show. God help me, I've been here long enough to remember Sadie King the first time around! But for me, I think some of those stories from 20 years ago: the King's house collapse, Cain going off in the seaplane with the two and a half million dollars, they're some of the most iconic stories in Emmerdale's history that I absolutely love.'
'So to be able to pick up on those stories, almost where we left off, and to kind of bring it back into the present and make sure whatever we do now picks up on all that. Just for me, it's a producer's dream. It really is.'
