Old Bill meets Emmerdale

Trudie Goodwin, famous for her role as Sgt June Ackland in defunct ITV cop show The Bill, is to join the cast of Emmerdale as Georgia Sharma.

“With Jai and Charity’s engagement announced, Mr and Mrs Sharma and their stunning daughter Priya are set to arrive in Emmerdale, keen to meet their future daughter-in-law.” Emmerdale’s press office say.

Georgia Sharma is described as a formidable and demanding yet witty mother. Georgia’s business-obsessed husband Rishi Sharma will be played by actor Bhasker Patel, who has a wealth of TV and film credits including Trial and Retribution and Holby Blue.

Their fun-loving and flirtatious daughter Priya will be played by actress Fiona Wade. Fiona has appeared in Lewis, Silent Witness, Where the Heart Is and three series of Grange Hill from 1997-99.

Stuart Blackburn, Emmerdale series producer says “I’m delighted to welcome Trudie, Bhasker and Fiona to the cast. There are plenty of trials and tribulations in store for the ever popular Sharma family.”

Current storylines see the Sharma sons running a sweet factory. Jai – played by Chris Bisson and Nikhil – actor Rik Makarem – have been seen working hard for quite some time now but as the rest of their family arrive on the doorstep life is going to get a lot more complicated for the brothers Emmerdale executives promise.

Trudie Goodwin says “I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing Georgia in Emmerdale. She is a difficult-to-please woman who is set to make life difficult for Charity. I can’t wait to start filming next week”.

The new arrivals will be seen on-screen from November.