Claire King says working on soaps is much "harder" these days.

Claire King

Claire King

The 'Emmerdale' star returned to the ITV soap as Kim Tate last month, and she believes life on the popular show is a "slog" because the actors are required to "learn so many lines" and film "so many scenes" in such a short period of time.

Claire told the Series Linked podcast: "The process has changed so much. It's a whirl, pretty intense.

"The hardest jobs in this business are pantomime and soap. It's the slog, the grind, the day-in, day-out, learning so many lines, so many scenes."

The 57-year-old actress is glad to have gone back to the Yorkshire Dales, having first spent a decade on the soap following her 1989 debut, and the former 'Bad Girls' star - who returned to 'Emmerdale' for a one-week cameo last year - believes reprising her role is the "best decision" she has ever made.

She previously said: "Coming back to 'Emmerdale' was very daunting but the best decision I've ever made.

"It's so much fun playing a soap super-bitch as you can get away with saying things you'd get a deserved slap for in real life! I don't think she could be any bitchier - she just sees her goal and aims for it no matter who's in the way.

"And I think she'll probably be the most hated person in the country for a while, until we see a softer side (and yes, she does have one!) I think Donald Trump can relax for a while!"