Tearaway teenager Amy Wyatt is returning to ‘Emmerdale’ – but the role has been recast.
Newcomer Natalie Ann Jamieson is stepping in to portray the rebellious youngster – who was originally played by Chelsea Halfpenny – and is "Incredibly excited" to have joined the soap.
Natalie told The Sun Online: "I’m incredibly excited to meet all of the talented cast and crew at ITV’s ‘Emmerdale’.
"I feel very lucky to be joining the cast of such a loved and respected show.
"I’m very grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to find out what the future holds for Amy!"
Viewers last saw Amy in 2013 when she fled the village to live in Northern Ireland, leaving her son Kyle in the care of his father Cain Dingle (Jeff Hoardsley).
The young mother had put her baby up for adoption but kidnapped him following the death of his adoptive parents and went on the run, before returning him to his biological dad and going on the run to avoid prison.
Show stalwarts Marlon Dingle (Marc Charnock) and Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) will appear in special episodes set in Belfast, where they will come face-to-face with Amy.
News of Natalie’s casting comes just a few days after Chelsea ruled out returning to the role now her four-year stint as Alicia Munroe in ‘Casualty’ has come to an end.
Quizzed on whether she could return to the village as Amy – who she portrayed from 2010 to 2013 – Chelsea said: "No, I’m not – I’m definitely not.
"There would be no point in leaving one long-running show to go back to the one you were in before. There are other things in my career that I’d like to do. For now, it’s a ‘no’. "
Emmerdale recasts Amy Wyatt role
