Gemma Atkinson will return to 'Emmerdale' next year.

Gemma Atkinson

Gemma Atkinson

The 32-year-old actress bowed out of the long-running soap over the summer months when her alter-ego Carly Hope left the village to start a new life with her ex-boyfriend Matt (Jack Hickey), but she has teased that she'll reprise her role at some point in the future when she's had time to recover from her stint on 'Strictly Come Dancing'.

Speaking to Digital Spy, she said: "Carly Hope will go back at some point. But I might want a holiday at the end of ['Strictly Come Dancing'.

"I am a hundred per cent sure Carly will return. It's just a case of figuring out when and why and who she can mess up when she comes back. It's the end at the moment, but not forever. I never say never.

"Carly will go off and do some living, but she will come back and make amends - hopefully she will find Marlon happy with someone when she does."

Gemma has just started training for the new series of the ballroom and latin show but has admitted she's struggling to find her inner sexiness and finds it cringe-worthy when she has to get up close and personal with her professional partner Aljaz Skorjanec.

She said recently: "Being forced to be face-to-face with someone you've just met is mortifying. It sounds all lovely. But it's like doing a scene with one of your mates at 'Emmerdale'. On camera it looks good, but when you're in it and doing it, it's awkward."

Gemma also revealed she went on an intense training course to prepare her body for the skimpy dance outfits, which she says are heavier than they look.


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