Dales actor: 'Payne's exit left a hole'

Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw has admitted that he struggled without his soap co-star Deena Payne.

Payne, 54, announced that she was taking a one-year break from her role as Viv Hope in November 2007, vowing to focus on her family and charity commitments.

Last month, the actress returned to the ITV1 show and promised "loads of enthusiasm" - to the joy of Audenshaw, who plays her screen husband Bob.

Speaking to the Daily Record, he explained: "Deena not being on set did feel like a hole. It was as if my right arm was missing.

"It's a special relationship between them on screen. It's a bit like Morecambe and Wise. Once you get a partnership it's never quite the same when you're working on your own."

He added: "She was a bit nervous on the first morning back, but she had to do lots of scenes over three days. It was a baptism of fire and there was no time for emotion, but that was good in a way because it was straight back to work again. It doesn't feel as if she's been away."

Payne's show comeback will be screened on July 14.