Loose Women star Denise Welch to play juror on Emmerdale

The 66-year-old, who made her name as Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street, will take on the role of head juror Heidi as Tom King appears in court over the domestic abuse of his wife Belle Dingle

Denise Welch ‘thoroughly enjoyed’ playing juror on hour-long Emmerdale special

Denise Welch has also starred in Coronation Street and EastEnders in the past (Image: Mark Bruce/ITV/PA Wire) Speaking of her appearance on Emmerdale, Denise Welch said: “I thoroughly enjoyed shooting this important episode of Emmerdale. Like many I’ve been gripped by the Belle and Tom storyline so to play a head juror in the story’s culmination was an honour.

“Parts of the script were taken from real-life cases and the charity Refuge was involved in the research. My character Heidi was more emotionally involved so I felt that maybe she had experienced some form of domestic abuse herself.

“At Loose Women, wearing my other hat, we launched our Facing It Together campaign this year which has been hugely successful in shining a light on all sorts of abuse including of course coercive control so the subject matter is one I’m passionate about.

“To share the jury scenes with Charlie Dale and Jack Ellis and also to see lots of my Emmerdale mates made it a job to remember.”

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Welch is married to fellow actor Tim Healy and is the mother of The 1975 lead singer Matty Healy.

She has also contributed to Loose Women since the year 2000 and appeared in more than 450 episodes of Coronation Street between 1997 and 2000.

She has appeared in the BBC drama Waterloo Road, the sitcom Benidorm and the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks as Trish Minniver. Welch also played Alison Slater in one episode of EastEnders.

The hour-long special episode will air at 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday, December 18) on ITV and ITVX.