A new character is shaking things up in Emmerdale tonight, as veteran actress Jaye Griffiths makes her debut as Celia Daniels — a tough, mysterious farmer who quickly stirs up tension in the village.

Celia works on land near Butlers Farm and wastes no time getting under Moira Dingle’s skin. In her first scenes, she brings up Moira’s past fines, setting the tone for her confrontational arrival.

After speaking to Moira about renting part of her land, Celia crosses paths with Paddy Kirk, who is helping Bear Wolf near one of her fields. When Paddy later tries to rescue a sheep stuck in Celia’s fencing, he’s unexpectedly attacked by her dog — an incident that hints at the trouble Celia may bring.

Jaye Griffiths, who plays Celia, has had a long and diverse career. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and is known for roles in Silent Witness, EastEnders, Casualty, The Bill, Doctor Who, and Coronation Street. From 2016 to 2019, she starred as Elle Gardner in Casualty, forming a close on-screen bond with Charles Venn’s character, Jacob Masters.

“I was delighted to get this role,” said Jaye. “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.”

Emmerdale boss Laura Shaw added, “We are absolutely delighted to have Jaye Griffiths joining us to play the role of Celia… the audience, and our villagers, will soon start to see what this woman is truly capable of.”