Gemma Oaten thinks ‘EastEnders’ needs a "northern lass".
The 31-year-old actress recently quit her job playing Rachel Breckle in ‘Emmerdale’ and has now confessed she wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to star in another soap and believes the east London-based drama could do with some more northern characters.
Asked what other soap she’d most like to star in, Gemma exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I’d have to say ‘Corrie’ [‘Coronation Street’] because obviously it’s northern and close to home and I know a lot of the cast but, equally, every time I see Dominic [Treadwell-Collins], the producer of ‘EastEnders’, I’m like, ‘You need a northern lass, you know that don’t you?’ He’s going, ‘Yes Gemma, I know, you keep telling me!’ "
And although Gemma was excited by the idea of playing a long-lost member of the Slater family, she claimed she didn’t think fans of the BBC One soap would appreciate her Yorkshire accent.
She added: I could be [a Slater]. I need to bring it [the accent] to the masses. They need a northern voice. Although not everyone likes my Hull accent so you never know."
Meanwhile, Gemma is currently preparing to strut her stuff on the catwalk at London Fashion Week for couture label Kolchagov Barba on September 18.
Gemma Oaten: EastEnders needs ‘northern lass’
