Coronation Street star joins Emmerdale in major role set to ruffle feathers

FORMER Corrie star Flo Wilson will appear in Emmerdale as Vicar Charles' mother Claudette.

Emmerdale have announced their latest addition to the cast with Flo playing Claudette, a force to be reckoned with and totally unafraid to speak her mind.

However Flo is no stranger to soapland as she previously played a nurse on rival soap Coronation Street from 2008 to 2009.

She worked at Weatherfield General Hospital and was on duty in the Accident and Emergency department when Ryan Connor and Alex Neeson had been brought into hospital.

Ryan had explained how they had been swapped at birth and the two boys ended up fighting in the road and had both sustained minor injuries.

The nurse was also amongst the team looking after Colin Grimshaw after he had been admitted following a stroke.

Talking about Flo joining the Emmerdale cast, executive producer Jane Hudson said: "We are delighted to welcome Flo Wilson to the cast of Emmerdale.

"Her talent and experience will bring a new dimension to the show, and we can't wait for viewers to see her in action. She's certainly going to ruffle feathers in the Anderson household."

Her character Claudette is deeply proud of her son Charles’ position as a vicar and grandson Ethan’s legal career.

She believes herself to be a loving matriarch, but secretly Charles finds his mother rather overbearing and soon the other villagers will learn not to get on the wrong side of Claudette. 

But what brings Claudette back into her son Charles’ life?

This actress has a wealth of 40 years experience on stage and screen.

Flo can be seen playing Mrs Wheatley in the soon to be released third and final season of Sanditon.

Other TV credits include Help, Mood, Top Boy, Brassic and Death In Paradise and multiple theatre roles at The National Theatre, The Old Vic, Leeds Playhouse, Shakespere’s Rose Theatre York, Theatre by the Lake, and York Theatre Royal.

Flo said: "I feel blessed that I was chosen to play Claudette and I hope to make the Emmerdale family proud of the work that I will do.”

She started filming this month and her first appearance on the show is set for later this spring.

Fans of Emmerdale are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Claudette and the impact she will have on Vicar Charles and the rest of the village. 

Charles Anderson actor Kevin Mathurin said: "I've had the privilege of working with Flo before, so when I saw her name on the sheet I knew she'd be perfect to bring Claudette to life.

"Flo is a wonderful soul, an amazing actress and is already settling in." 

Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7pm on ITV1.