Emmerdale star looks unrecognisable in final Vera episodes 10 years after quitting ITV soap
VERA viewers were quick to spot a familiar face in the New Year’s Day episode – a former Emmerdale actress making her return to screens nearly a decade after leaving the ITV soap.
The ITV detective drama returned tonight with a dramatic new episode as Vera was called to the banks of the Tyne after a body of a young man has been washed up.
Actress Brenda Blethyn returned as DCI Vera Stanhope and noticed a blow to the head on the victim, which indicated that this wasn’t an accidental drowning.
The 78-year-old was joined once again by actor David Leon as Joe Ashworth, Rhiannon Clements as Detective Steph Duncan and former Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati as Chief Superintendent Khalon.
Riley Jones also returned as DC Mark Edwards, Sarah Kameela Impey as Dr Paula Bennett and Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart.
However, ITV viewers spotted another familiar face during the New Year’s Day episode.
Chelsea Halfpenny – who previously played Amy Wyatt in Emmerdale – appeared in Vera as Kimberly Martin.
The actress, now 32, starred in the ITV soap from 2010, until she quit in 2013.
In 2022, Chelsea told the Metro: “I only left because I was 22 — I was young and wanted to try other things. My character is back now but it’s not me playing her. Over the years they had asked if I wanted to return a couple of times and I’d said no.”
The star looked unrecognisable in Vera, a decade after her Emmerdale exit, as she had matured and swapped her dark hair for a light blonde style.
Since her departure from the soap, she has toured with musicals Waitress and Sister Act.
She got engaged to fellow Emmerdale actor James Baxter and gave birth to their daughter, Cream Knuckleberry Baxter, in June.
Chelsea got her first professional job when she was just ten year old in Byker Grove for four years.
Show-business also runs the her family as her aunt is Jill Halfpenny, who also starred in Byker Grove as Nicola Dobson.
Jill is also widely known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins on Coronation Street, Kate Mitchell on EastEnders and Izzie Redpath in Waterloo Road.
Chelsea said: “As a child, I really looked up to Jill and her life seemed really cool. She lived in London and she did all these fun jobs.
Soap characters who've been recast
Soap operas are staple viewing for many people, but even some of the most famous characters have been played by different actors. Here are some examples from over the years.
- Tracy Barlow: Kate Ford took on the role of Corrie legend Tracy Barlow in 2002. Before Kate, three other actresses had played Tracy – most notably Dawn Acton from 1988 to 1999.
- Nick Tilsley: Ben Price has been playing Gail’s oldest child in 2009, but the former Footballers’ Wives star is the third actor to take on the part.
- Sarah Platt: Although Tina O’Brien debuted as Sarah Platt in 1999, she is the third actress who has played the iconic role of Sarah Platt.
- David Platt: Completing the line-up of Gail’s children, David was initially played by Thomas Ormson for a decade before Jack P. Shepherd took over.
- Daniel Osbourne: For almost a decade, the role of Ken Barlow’s son Daniel has been portrayed by actor Rob Mallard. Before Rob joined, two other actors had previously played Daniel.
- Bethany Platt: Fans know Lucy Fallon as Bethany nowadays but before her, three other actresses had stepped into the character’s shoes.
- Kirk Sutherland: Before Andy Whyment took on the role of Kirk, he played by an uncredited actor in his very first appearance.
- Todd Grimshaw: Gareth Pierce stepped into the role of Todd back in 2020, becoming the second performer to play this part.
- Summer Spellman: Harriet Bibby became the second actress to play Summer, taking over the role from Matilda Freeman in 2020.
- Ryan Connor: Ryan Prescott currently plays the long-running character, but Ben Thompson and Sol Heras had earlier portrayed the role.
- Martin Fowler: Although Martin was the first baby born on-screen in EastEnders, he hasn’t always been played by the same person. His current portrayer, James Bye, is the third actor to star as the character.
- Peter Beale: Seven actors have portrayed Ian Beale’s elder son, with the current actor, Thomas Law, in his second stint as the character.
- Ben Mitchell: Ben has been played by a total of six actors – with Max Bowden bowing out of the role in March 2024.
- Bobby Beale: Before Clay Milner Russell, Ian’s younger son had been played by four other actors.
- Freddie Slater: Bobby’s best mate, Freddie Slater, had been previously played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby before Bobby Brazier took over in 2022.
- Chelsea Fox: Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams took over the role of Chelsea in 2020. The character had been first played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010.
- Lauren Branning: Jacqueline Jossa took on the role of Lauren in 2010, succeeding Madeline Duggan who’d played her from 2006 to 2010.
- Johnny Carter: Johnny has been played by three actors since debuting in 2013 – most recently, Charlie Suff has taken on the role.
“I liked singing and acting and seeing someone from a similar background doing it, and being successful spurred me on.”
Meanwhile, the next episode of Vera, entitled The Dark Wives, will be the final ever episode.
The detective will be faced with the violent death of a young student and a girl’s disappearance.
Vera continues on Thursday 2nd January at 9pm on ITV1.