Claire King sees her long-term future on Emmerdale
Emmerdale icon Claire King hopes to continue playing Kim Tate on the ITV soap for a long time to come.
Claire King hopes to stay in Emmerdale for years to come.
The 63-year-old star has played the role of Kim Tate in the ITV soap on and off since 1989 and pays little attention to social media chatter about her character's future on the show.
Claire told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "From my side, I would like to stay in (Emmerdale). But they might have plans to get rid of me already! I have read things like, 'Kim's fate is doomed', but I certainly haven't read that in the scripts. It's why I don't ever read anything on social media."
Claire's alter ego is at the centre of a sad Christmas storyline this year, with Kim spending the festivities alone as she grieves for her horse Ice - who died during an illegal shooting party organised by her best friend Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) - and the star admits that it brought the emotional matter to her attention.
She said: "It breaks my heart every time I watch the Age UK advert (highlighting loneliness) and it really gets to me. I know Christmas is essentially a Sunday lunch that seems to go on for months. But, for those on their own, it's a heartbreaking time.
"It's always important to pop round to see people to make sure they are alright with a little pudding or some sloe gin - that's what I will be doing."
King continued: "It's a sad time for Kim. It's a year since she lost her husband, Will, and she has had this big fall out with Lydia, all because she needed some money to pay for the electrics.
"She is now on crutches because of everything that went on with the shoot and she is helpless. It's a real bah humbug moment for her."
Claire's current storyline makes her appreciative of her family life and she will be doing her utmost to make her mother Angela feel special at Christmas - especially after the passing of her dad John in September 2024.
She explained: "Before my father died, I would be jumping on a flight as soon as I could get out of Emmerdale.
"But since losing him, I want to be at home so I can invite Mum round. I do the full-on spread; I make way too much food and pour way too much drink! But you just want everyone to be happy."
