Emmerdale's Alexander Lincoln has opened up about the tough filming schedules on the ITV soap.
Alexander played Jamie Tate on the popular programme until 2021 and he admits it was difficult filming for such a long amount of hours and jumping between scenes, as he lifted the lid on behind-the-scenes at the show.
He explained how soap actors get a "bad" reputation - but he admitted filming for a soap can be really "intense" and recalled a particular day of filming where he had to film 19 scenes in one day.
It's something which he says is in direct contrast to other shows he's filmed, where they'd just do two or three scenes a day.
"You said it before, soap actors do get a really bad rap but it is one of the most intense jobs I think you can do with acting. It is 10/11 hours a day. I shot 19 scenes one day, which is insane," he said in a chat with Entertainment Focus.
"I did this thing recently for the BBC and they would shoot maybe two or three scenes a day, so comparatively, you’re like, ‘oh my god, that’s amazing!’. You’d be in every scene of the 19 scenes as well so every evening you’re going home and you’re learning lines and you’re anxious about the next day because you haven’t really had a chance to fully get into it."
Speaking about the positive sides, he added: "But in the same brushstroke, you know the character inside out because you’ve been playing it for so long. There’s ups and downs to all of it."
However, Alexander admitted it caused him a lot of anxiety having downtime between filming for other shows.
He explained: "Soap work is regular and in acting you never get regular work generally. Going from the high intensity 10 to 11 hour days every day of the week to doing a project for a month, maybe less … your downtime is a lot longer in between.
"For me, it’s been finding hobbies in the meantime because you can become so anxious about the next thing. I found myself not focusing on the downtime and enjoying that time, and just sitting with it and experiencing life as it is."
Emmerdale fans are convinced Jamie could make a return to the ITV soap, after they found out he was alive. Jamie had been presumed dead after a car crash - but his body was never found.
However, Kim Tate is still in the dark about Jamie being alive and there could be fireworks if she ever finds out.
