After 15 years as Jacob Gallagher on ITV’s Emmerdale, actor Joe-Warren Plant has reflected on his character’s journey, particularly after the heartwrenching limo crash that claimed his mother, Leyla Harding’s life.
With the departure of co-stars Roxy Shahidi and Matthew Wolfenden, who played his mother Leyla and David Metcalfe respectively, Joe-Warren anticipates exciting new developments for his character.
During an press event, he expressed enthusiasm for upcoming storylines. “There’s lots more coming up for Jacob, I can’t wait. The new episodes coming through have got me excited for the next year.”
He also appreciated the opportunity to work with different cast members: “Now Matthew [Wolfenden] and Roxy [Shahidi] have gone, which was heartbreaking, it’s allowed me to work with other people who I don’t usually have scenes with and it’s been a breath of fresh air really.”
Joe-Warren acknowledged the character evolution this has spurred: “It’s nice to see the different dynamics Jacob has with other characters as well. I feel like It’s pushing me in a different direction rather than playing the son of Leyla. It’s been nice for me to try and do something different.”
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Joe-Warren Plant has played Jacob Gallagher for 15 years in Emmerdale (Image: ITV)
In terms of maintaining relationships with his former on-screen family, he confirmed they were all planning to catch up soon: “We are due to go out for lunch very soon. I saw Matthew in panto and Roxy and I went down together. That was a really nice moment.”, reports Leeds Live.
Jacob was thrust into the limelight in a compelling special episode last month, and Joe-Warren confessed feeling the weight of expectation to bring authenticity to his character’s tribulations on the frontline.
He opened up: “It was a lot of pressure to be fair. I almost felt really scared in that moment. Obviously, it was exciting and exhilarating. I know a few people who have this job in real-life and it is not easy by any means. They struggle with the pressures that it brings on a scale that I don’t think any other job has.”
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Jacob is navigating life without having Leyla Harding and David Metcalfe around (Image: ITV)
Adding to the significance of the portrayal, he said, “It was important to take my time with it and research things. You hear stories about what these people deal with on a day-to-day basis.
“I know that I couldn’t do it. I have so much respect for anybody who has that job. So, it was important for me to tell it with as much authenticity as I could.”
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