Exclusive: More ex-'Emmerdale' actors confirmed for 'Doctors'

Another pair of ex-Emmerdale actors are to make guest appearances in Doctors later this year, Digital Spy can confirm.

Carolyn Pickles – who played Shelley Williams in the Yorkshire drama – was last seen tumbling overboard from a ferry at the hands of her evil best friend Steph Stokes (Lorraine Chase).

After filming at Doctors' Birmingham-based set earlier this month, Pickles will appear in three episodes as Ruth Mills, a therapist employed by practice manager Julia Parsons (Diane Keen) to help bridge the ever-widening gap between feisty Senior Practice Nurse Michelle Corrigan (Donnaleigh Bailey) and stern receptionist Vivien March (Anita Carey).

However, the only thing that seems to unite the warring women is their mutual hatred toward their therapist.

Meanwhile, Kerry Stacey – whose character Toni Daggert left Emmerdale in the New Year after a disastrous relationship with Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) – is to play Leanne Gates in the BBC daytime medical drama.

Leanne is a bright and caring woman attempting to overcome a deep depression fuelled by the suicide of her sister. Constantly thwarted in her attempts to reconnect with the world, she is desperately lonely and has no idea which way to turn.

Producer Erika Hossington told DS: "Doctors consistently attracts the best acting talent out there."

She added: "Carolyn Pickles and Kerry Stacey are the latest names to sign up and this goes to show that the programme is absolutely up there with the very best of British TV Drama."

Both Carolyn and Kerry will make their on-screen appearances at the end of November.