Emmerdale fans are desperate for answers after the big announcement that a new Sugden is joining the soap.
Show bosses have revealed that West End star Casey Al-Shaqsy is about to hit our screens in the role of Serena Sugden, an exciting new character for the village.
The official casting update from ITV promised some major story plans for the character, but also kept quiet about the answers to two significant questions, which we’re delving into right here…
Where does Serena fit into the Sugden family tree?
Emmerdale‘s press release yesterday didn’t include details of how Serena is connected to the rest of the Sugdens.
Soaps are fond of plucking random cousins or other long-lost relatives out of thin air, so fans will have to stay tuned to see whether there’s an off-hand explanation or a bigger twist at play.
The show has described her as “the newest member of the legendary Sugden clan”, indicating that she’s not a character who’s appeared in the village before.
In response to the casting announcement on Instagram, one fan quipped: “Got to be a cousin… Jack didn’t have that many affairs did he?”
Another added: “Maybe she’s Joe Sugden’s long lost daughter? Either way, let’s wait and see. It’s nice to have a new Sugden, there are too many Dingles.”
One thing we know for sure is that Emmerdale chiefs have been plotting to expand the Sugden family for a while.
Producer Laura Shaw recently spoke about plans to make the Sugdens and the Tates a bigger force in the show again, putting them head-to-head with the Dingles.
“Obviously Isabel [Hodgins, who plays Victoria] is on maternity leave, but Sarah’s married Jacob – he’s taken the Sugden name – and what I want to do over the course of the next few months is remind everyone that Sarah’s also a Sugden,” Shaw said. “There’s going to be a couple of new arrivals to strengthen both the Tate and Sugden clans.”
Meanwhile, the soap added yesterday: “The arrival of Serena marks an exciting new chapter for the iconic Emmerdale family, as the show looks to strengthen the dynasty’s presence in the village.”
Serena comes to someone’s rescue – but who?
Another tidbit revealed yesterday was that Serena’s early scenes see her drawn into an established character’s traumatic situation. She soon finds herself conflicted about what she’s become involved in.
The villager in question wasn’t named, and it’s tricky to narrow down, as there are quite a few characters involved in traumatic situations at the moment!
Charity Dingle is currently taking centre stage in heartbreaking scenes after being sexually assaulted by Dr Todd, who has since moved out of the village.
Cain Dingle also has one of the biggest ongoing storylines as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year – and next week’s episodes see him receive the concerning news that his illness has spread.
Meanwhile, Lewis Barton is about to be kidnapped by an unknown figure, and Gabby Thomas is starting to head down a dangerous path with her body image issues. So, no shortage of options to choose from!
When Emmerdale announced Serena’s arrival, various cast members responded on Instagram to welcome the news.
“Such a fantastic addition to our show – she’s amazing #justsayin,” gushed Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy.
Bradley Riches, aka Lewis, also cheered: “THERE SHE IS.”
Could these be clues to who Serena interacts with – or just red herrings?
Speaking on Instagram this week, new cast member Casey explained that she couldn’t share her exact debut date just yet, but she’ll be on our screens before the end of the month.
