Who is Lachlan White actor Thomas Atkinson, when did he join the Emmerdale’s cast and was he on Britain’s Got Talent?

THOMAS Atkinson is an English actor who is currently playing the role of murderous Lachlan White in Emmerdale.

But how long has he starred in the soap and what has he said about his character's many murders? Here's the lowdown...

Who is Thomas Atkinson?

Thomas Atkinson is an English actor who plays Lachlan White in Emmerdale.

He was born on 21 November 1998.

Before joining Emmerdale, he starred in Eric & Ernie and Trying Again.

Thomas' character has committed several murders in the soap.

When did Thomas join Emmerdale?

Thomas joined Emmerdale in 2014.

His first scenes aired in November that year.

He was just fifteen years old when he joined the soap.

His character, who is in a relationship with Belle Dingle, has so far murdered his mum and grandfather, Chrissie and Lawrence, his best friend Gerry and his 'fake' uncle Terry.

He also attempted to murder Liv Flaherty and Robert Sugden, businessman Freddy.

It's thought he has murdered his aunt, Rebecca White, though villagers have been led to believe she's moved to Ibiza.

Was he on BGT?

Thomas told This Morning's Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard that he had a secret past as a Britain's Got Talent contestant.

He was explaining that he was nervous as he hadn't done much live TV before but that he did once appear as a backing singer for Bars and Melody on the ITV talent show.

He said: "I was a backing singer on Britain's Got Talent once, when I was younger.

Kate and Ben were totally shocked, asking: "Were you? Bars and Melody, oh yeah."

Thomas added: "Yeah, I was, in the final. It was weird. I did a little sway."

What's he said about his character's murders?

Thomas enjoys playing a dark character, so much so that he wants Lachlan to strike again.

He said: "He's going to get a lot darker, which some of the audience might not like but for me it's fun anyway.

"It's going to be quite interesting.

"It's a bit weird but yeah I think I would [like Lachlan to kill again].

"For me as an actor it's interesting to do, so how can I not want that?"

Speaking about Lachlan's previous murders, Thomas explained: "I think Lachlan tries to justify his actions, so everything he's done so far has been for his relationship with Belle.

"I wouldn't necessarily say he thinks he's a psychopath, because he's justifying it in his head. I don't think he thinks he's a psychopath at all.

"Gerry was his best friend and Lachlan didn't want to kill him deep down.

"It was the same with his mum and granddad, it was a spur of the moment thing and it was because they treated him so badly. But Gerry was his best friend in the village.

"Lachlan was conflicted over what to do, but if he'd saved him at the point he'd already collapsed a B&B on him, there's no way that Gerry wouldn't tell anybody. You saw that when he kicked the rock and Gerry screamed.

"Lachlan realised that, despite the fact Gerry said they'd laugh about it and have a drink in the future, he was just making it up and lying. So that was it."