Emmerdale star Amy Walsh has admitted she broke down in tears when she made her return to the ITV soap.
The actress exited the soap last year when she went on maternity leave to welcome her first child with Toby Alexander-Smith, who played serial killer Gray Atkins on rival soap EastEnders, before making a brief return for the 50th anniversary.
She is now back on the ITV soap with a huge new storyline. Moira and Cain are convinced that Tracy is planning to get married, and that Nate is set to crash the wedding as he makes an unexpected appearance at the Town Hall.
Worried he's about to stop Tracy from saying her 'I do's to a handsome man they've seen her with, Cain kidnaps Nate before he can even get anywhere near to Tracy, and even manage to knock him out. When he comes around, what will he say?
It marks Amy's full time return as Tracy following the arrival of her daughter, Bonnie.
"I just feel like I’ve come back and never been away. It just feels so normal for me to be here. I said to my mum a couple of days in, I was like I’ve never felt more at home than I have there. I feel so comfortable here and it’s felt the same," she said of her return.
However, she admitted to The Mirror and other press that it wasn't all plain sailing as she struggled to leave her daughter.
She said: "The hair and make up team are like sisters to me. I’ve cried a few times in the make up chair out of pure exhaustion or dropping my child off at nursery. I went in in tears, and they were like, we won’t do your face first, we’ll do your hair.
"We’re all good friends but when you’re away, you’re busy with your child and people are busy with their jobs, but then it reminds you how close you are. I feel like me again. It’s nice to have the time when you’re at work and remember the friendships."
Amy admits it has been hard being back on the show and juggling her work life and family life.
"I thought I used to be tired, I always complained about being tired before, but now I’m like how am I doing this? It’s hard, I’m not gonna lie, but that’s because my child isn’t sleeping at the moment," she said.
"Just the hours you’re here, you leave at seven and then you’re back in the building at seven. You’ve got to bath and bed your child and then make your dinner and then do your lines for the next day, talk to your other half and then get back and go again."
