Casualty and Doctors star Jaye Griffiths is set to join ITV soap Emmerdale.

Griffiths will play the role of tenant farmer Celia on Emmerdale, making her debut in June.

She will be involved in a storyline that will see fellow character Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt, taken to hospital following a dog attack.

Griffiths has already starred in various other TV shows, including Death In Paradise (DI Karen Flitcroft), Silent Witness (Janet Mander) and The Bill (DI Sally Johnson).

The 61-year-old has also appeared in BBC soaps EastEnders (Helen Stritch), Casualty, Holby City (Elle Gardner) and Doctors (Elizabeth Croft).

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Griffiths will play the role of tenant farmer Celia on Emmerdale, a neighbour of Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb).

Celia is renting from Kim Tate, played by Claire King, and her arrival could spark a rivalry with the established farming families of Barton’s and Sugden’s, Emmerdale teased.

Jaye Griffiths has appeared on several TV shows throughout her career, including Death in Paradise (DI Karen Flitcroft), EastEnders (Helen Stritch), Doctors (Elizabeth Croft) and Casualty (Elle Gardner). (Image: BBC) The new character is said to have a “bad reputation” and will be seen on screen for the first time in June, where she calls on Moira to ask if she can rent two of her fields.

Moira will say no to Celia, and later vet Paddy Kirk will be taken to hospital having been attacked by the new farmer’s guard dogs.

Celia (Griffiths) will show her “true colours” following the attack, the ITV soap added.

Griffiths said: “I was delighted to get this role – without giving the game away she is very different to anyone I have played before and I can’t wait to really get into the heart of her storyline.”

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Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw added: “We are absolutely delighted to have Jaye Griffiths joining us to play the role of Celia.

“Having recently taken over a nearby farm, not much is known about mysterious Celia’s past before arriving on the outskirts of the village.

“While Celia has a tough edge with an air of respectability, the audience, and our villagers, will soon start to see what this woman is truly capable of.”

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There were 19 recorded deaths in 2023 due to being bitten or struck by a dog, and a further seven in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, dogs can be seized and euthanised for being “dangerously out of control”.