EMMERDALE has been on our TV screens for almost 50 years and hundreds of actors have come and gone from the soap over that time.

Here is a look back at some of those popular characters from Emmerdale, including those who were born in Bradford, and what they are up to these days since leaving the soap.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

NATALIE ANDERSON

The Bradford-born actress, who was a former Bradford Bulls cheerleader, played Alicia Metcalfe on the soap between 2010 and 2015.

She launched her lifestyle brand The Capsule in 2016, which is focused on fashion, beauty and wellbeing.

Last year, the accompanying podcast The Capsule in Conversation launched which sees Anderson interview celebrities and experts.

In recent years she’s had presenting slots on TV’s This Morning and written for Hello! online.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

CLAIRE KING

Bradford-born King played the dastardly Kim Tate on the soap originally for 10 years from 1989.

She left the soap in dramatic fashion in 1999 and went on to star in a number of TV dramas over the next decade. These included her role as Karen Betts in ITV prison drama for four years.

She also proved a hit on the dancefloor, finishing sixth in the 2006 series of Strictly Come Dancing.

King returned for a special week of episodes two years ago before coming back permanently to cause trouble in the soap in 2019.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

FRAZER HINES

The 76-year-old is one of Emmerdale’s best remembered characters.

He played Joe Sugden in the soap between 1972 and 1994 and was later killed off.

He released ‘Fifty Shades of Frazer – A life in Pictures’ book in 2013. He can often be found tweeting on a host of subjects including cricket.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

VERITY RUSHWORTH

The Bradford-born actress played Donna Windsor between 1998 and 2009. She returned to the role for a five-month stint in 2014.

Rushworth has also forged out a successful stage career, appearing in productions of Hairspray, Annie and Chicago.

She has now joined the cast of daytime BBC soap Doctors, playing Lily Walker, who Rushworth describes as ‘ditzy’.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

IAN KELSEY

The York-born actor starred as Dave Glover between 1994 and 1997. He then went on to join the cast of Doctors and The Bill.

He has also starred on stage in adaptations of Legally Blonde and the Shawshank Redemption.

Between 2016 and 2017 he starred as Vinny Ashford in Coronation Street.

SHEREE MURPHY

She is most famous for her role as Tricia Dingle, wife of Marlon, which she played from 1998 until she was killed off in 2004.

Murphy has had a rich and varied career since, presenting on ITV’s Loose Women and appearing in Hollyoaks and Neighbours.

She finished second to Carol Thatcher in the 2005 series of ‘I’m a Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here’.

She is married to former Leeds United and Liverpool player Harry Kewell, who is the current manager of League Two side Oldham Athletic.

She tweeted a tribute to comedian Bobby Ball, who died this week.

Her TV debut saw her play a female mugger in Only Fools and Horses 1996 Christmas episode ‘Heroes and Villains’.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

KELVIN FLETCHER

Fletcher, 36, played Andy Sugden on Emmerdale between 1996 and 2016, after originally only scripted to be in three episodes.

Fletcher has also had a switch in gears in his career as a motorsport star.

He drove a Chevrolet Cruze entered by the Power Maxed Racing team in the 2016 British Touring Car Championship, finishing the season in 31st place.

His career highlight since leaving the Yorkshire soap was winning last year’s season of Strictly, alongside professional dancer Oti Mabuse, after only joining the show as a replacement for the injured Jamie Laing.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

DUNCAN PRESTON

The Eccleshill-born actor was known to TV viewers before entering the soap, having starred in a string of comedy shows.

He played Doug Potts in the soap during two spells, between 2004 and 2011, returning from 2014 to 2020

The Bradford Bulls fan spoke to the Telegraph & Argus in April this year about life in lockdown, where he revealed he was getting through self-isolation by becoming hooked on Channel 5 fly-on-the-wall documentary series Yorkshire Vet. He also says he saw Bradford City legend John Hendrie during his walks.