'Emmerdale' Declan is manic over Mia bombshell, says Jason Merrells

Emmerdale star Jason Merrells has revealed how his character Declan Macey reacts when he discovers that he is not Mia's biological father in climactic scenes on the soap.

Next week's episodes of the ITV1 drama see Declan's on-off partner Ella Hart drop the bombshell, revealing that Jai Sharma is Mia's real dad before leaving the village.

The revelation proves to be Ella's final spiteful act as actress Corrinne Wicks bows out from the programme. The dramatic scenes also build up to Mia's (Sapphire Elia) departure at the end of the month.

Merrells told Soaplife: "Declan's sent reeling. He had never questioned Mia's paternity but once he's told, something in the back of his mind goes, 'Click - yes, there always has been something not quite right'.

"It totally changes the way Declan feels about Mia. In theory, he'd like to think, 'It doesn't matter - I brought you up and I'm still your dad'. But he can't. He keeps seeing Jai in her face."

Subsequent scenes see a scheming Declan take Jai (Chris Bisson) out on a clay pigeon shooting expedition. Armed with a shotgun, Declan then begins quizzing the factory boss over his history with Ella.

Teasing the tense scenes, Merrells added: "He's gutted about losing his daughter. It affects him very deeply and he becomes a bit manic. Declan's not cold-blooded but he is fuelled by a cold rage."

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