Emmerdale star Sally Dexter had a surprise encounter with the actress who originally played her character Faith Dingle during a special soap quiz on ITV. The reunion took place on Monday night's The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street vs Emmerdale, where Dexter came face-to-face with Gillian Jephcott, who portrayed Faith in the early 2000s.
Jephcott appeared on the show alongside Dexter and her Emmerdale co-stars Mark Charnock and Emile John. A clip from Jephcott's time in the village was played, featuring scenes with Charnock's character Marlon Dingle. Host Stephen Mulhern then revealed that Jephcott had originally played Faith Dingle, leaving the team visibly shocked.
Dexter, who has played Faith since 2017, gasped as she recognised Jephcott. 'Yes I do, we are one in the same aren’t we!' she said. Jephcott joked about being an understudy, saying, 'Well you know if you’re ever poorly, I'm here.' Dexter replied, 'I've always wanted to be blonde.'
Gillian Jephcott first portrayed Faith Dingle in 2000 and made sporadic appearances until 2004. The character then left the village until 2017, when Sally Dexter was cast in the role. The reunion was described as 'awkward' by Mulhern, but both actresses took it in good humour.
