Atkins: 'I was daunted by Dales comeback'

Emmerdale star Emma Atkins has admitted that she was initially nervous about returning to the soap.

The 34-year-old actress agreed to reprise her role as superbitch Charity Tate on the Yorkshire-based drama earlier this year.

Charity was last seen on screen in 2005 as she left the village following a fling with Sadie King's (Patsy Kensit) husband Jimmy (Nick Miles).

Discussing the aftermath of her decision to come back, Atkins told DS: "I was daunted at thinking that I might make a pig's ear of it by not being able to 'find' the character again, but I was worrying unnecessarily. As soon as I got the first brilliant script, I knew I could do it."

She continued: "I want to enjoy every second I'm here and embrace the character completely again. From that train of thought and mindset, it came instinctively."

Atkins also insisted that she doesn't feel pressurised by the hype surrounding her return to the programme because she has a "light-hearted" attitude.

She added: "There are days when I don't feel light-hearted in the slightest, but then there's a nice counter-balance which helps when someone mentions the ratings - at that point, I just switch off!

"I just treat it as any other job, like any other acting role, and do it to the best of my ability. I have fun with it, put 110% in and I hope that the outcome is what viewers are expecting."

Charity's reappearance in the soap, which airs tomorrow night, has been billed as a key aspect of new series producer Gavin Blyth's ongoing Emmerdale revamp.

> Click here to read our full interview with Emma Atkins