Ben Freeman still keen for Dales return

Former Emmerdale star Ben Freeman is still hoping to make a return to the soap, he has confirmed.

The 29-year-old actor was dropped by the ITV1 show in December 2007 after being charged with rape in Barbados. He was eventually cleared after facing trial in October last year.

Despite initial speculation that his alter-ego Scott Windsor could return to the programme following the trial outcome, producers have insisted that there are "no current plans" for a comeback.

Discussing his future in an interview with Click Liverpool, Freeman explained: "Emmerdale is an absolutely massive part of my life, it has been very good to me. I did it for ten years and it has opened up doors for me.

"I haven't been approached officially, but I talk to everyone behind the scenes so it's something that could happen but that is for my agent to sort out.

"I'd been on the soap since I was 18 years old and I made a lot of friends - I love every single person there. It's a definite possibility."

The soap's new lead producer Gavin Blyth has already secured the return of Emma Atkins as Charity Tate since taking control in January. Further new signings have been promised for the coming months.