Wendy Posner was at the centre of the action once again in Emmerdale this week.
The character has been played by Susan Cookson on the long-running soap since 2019. Fans have been taken aback by her latest storyline in which she has become embroiled in a steamy affair with Dr Liam Cavanagh, played by Jonny McPherson.
Wendy had previously been a loyal wife to Bob Hope but she developed a shared bond with Dr Cavanagh in recent weeks over their love for reading. The passionate fling continued this week as they were both seen emerging from behind the couch after their latest racy encounter in Tuesday's episode.
Susan admitted she was surprised when the plot was originally pitched to her but is proud of how the storyline empowers women in their 50s and 60s. She told our sister site, Mirror Online: "I was initially like: ‘Oh my God, really? At my age! Would Liam really go there?’ My reaction was to feel sorry for Jonny: ‘Oh God, he’s going to have kiss me, poor guy!’
"And then I thought: ‘It’s not me, it’s a character I’m playing, of course I can do that, we’re both professional actors.’ I’ve always said I’m done in terms of relationships, but this storyline has made me realise that if I did want to, I probably could and it would be ok.
“If it can make me feel like that, then hopefully it will make other women in their 50s and 60s realise that they’re not written off in their 50s and 60s.”
The 58-year-old has enjoyed a long career in television as this is her fourth stint in Emmerdale and she also played Callum Logan's mum, Marion, in Coronation Street. Away from the screen, she was married to actor Malcolm Scates, who has appeared in shows such as Shameless and Waterloo Road.
However, Susan was ready to give up acting altogether after Malcolm died from a brain tumour aged 58 in 2016. She spoke about the tragedy on Loose Women in May and revealed how she debated entering a career in nursing as she cared for her husband during his final months.
She said: "Once he passed I was thinking I'm getting too old in the tooth to be waiting around for the phone to ring and caring does come naturally to me. So I started thinking about actually getting into nursing so I put a few feelers out and I was actually going to speak to somebody about taking a test to get into basic level nursing."
However, her acting career was saved when she revealed Emmerdale boss, Jane Hudson, gave her a call and offered her a part while she was on the way to speak to someone about retraining. She added: "I was literally on my way and then my phone pinged and it was Jane and she just said 'would you fancy coming and living in Emmerdale village with us. Oh and by the way, the character is a nurse."
Susan is happier than ever on Emmerdale as she has recently signed a new contract to extend her time in the fictional Yorkshire village. The soap star admitted the years following Malcolm's death were difficult but is now looking forward to what the future brings.
She told Mirror Online: “The last few years have not been easy. The man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with was no longer by my side. I thought we were going to get old and grey together. But Emmerdale has given me a new lease of life and a new energy. It came along at the right point in my life.
“Malcolm was always my biggest fan and always encouraged me and he would just be so pleased that I’ve ended up at Emmerdale"
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