Actress Gemma Atkinson has decided against a return to her soap opera beginnings. The TV favourite first gained recognition as Lisa Hunter on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2005, with a brief comeback just three years ago. Since then, she’s graced our screens in shows like The Bill, and Waterloo Road. Eventually, the 40-year-old star traded the North West for West Yorkshire, taking on the role of Carly Hope in ITV’s Emmerdale. Eight years after leaving Emmerdale, Gemma has candidly shared the real reason why she won’t be making a soap comeback anytime soon. “I would love to go back to acting again, 100%, I would love to do a one off drama where there was a start date and an end date, so I could plan childcare around it,” she revealed.
Gemma as Carly Hope and Mark Charnock as Marlon Dingle in Emmerdale
(Image: Daily Mirror)
The actress, who is also lending her celebrity support to Soccer Aid for UNICEF this year, explained further: “My partner Gorka [Marquez], he starts Strictly Come Dancing from July, so from July to Christmas, he’s kind of wherever his partner is based, if he has a partner. “So it’s kind of all up in the air. So to go back to a soap wouldn’t really be realistic because the hours are so few and far between, you’re either in 12 hours a day or you’re in two hours a day, your schedule can change at the drop of a hat,” reports the Mirror. The star reflected on her soap opera days with affection, saying: “I loved my time on all the soaps, its where I am now because of them but I think, now that I’ve got the children, I just wouldn’t be able to commit unfortunately. But I do still watch it [Emmerdale] and I don’t want Marlon to be killed off, I want Mark (Charnock) to stay in.”
Gemma quit Emmerdale almost a decade ago
(Image: ITV)
This year Gemma is lending her celebrity support to Soccer Aid for UNICEF. She was delighted about having strong players like Jill Scott and Toni Duggan on board. While Gemma is cheering on England, Gorka will play for World XI, which led to some light-hearted household rivalry, as she laughingly admitted: “There will definitely be a rivalry between me and Gorka,” and humorously divulged: “He’s still rubbing it in about the Spanish game in the summer. So yeah, he will still be rubbing it in but I’m going to put the kids in England shirts, he’s outnumbered.” Overjoyed by women’s football’s escalating recognition, the doting mum to six year old Mia and one year old Thiago shared during a chat at Manchester’s Hotel Football: “I think it’s great that women’s football is finally coming centre stage. My daughter plays football at school.” The host of The Overshare podcast couldn’t hide her excitement about being part of Soccer Aid, set to take place at Old Trafford this June. “It’s on my doorstep, Manchester, there’s a positivity in the air,” Gemma gushed, also mentioning: “There’s going to be some lighthearted rivalry on the day.”
Gemma Atkinson is a Soccer Aid for UNICEF supporter
(Image: UNICEF/Soccer Aid Productions/Stella Pictures)
When asked why she chose to get involved with Soccer Aid, Gemma, a devoted mother, spoke from the heart: “As a mum myself, you realise the impact it can have. The thought of my kids needing any help or support from charities is heartbreaking. You just want to provide everything for them. The fact that we’ve raised over £100 million for children worldwide is just incredible.” Emmerdale is on ITV1 and ITVX. The Soccer Aid match takes place on Sunday, June 15 at Old Trafford, Manchester. Tickets are available now on the Soccer Aid for UNICEF website.
