TATE & STYLE!

Emmerdale’s CLAIRE KING on weddings, wind machines and the wickedly wonderful Kim

- ALISON SLADE

EMMERDALE SUNDAY-FRIDAY, TIMES VARY, ITV SOAP

The jewel in the crown of Emmerdale’s 50th-anniversary storylines reaches our screens this week. On the day of Kim Tate’s nuptials to Will Taylor, a huge storm hits the village, causing mammoth destruction and changing lives for ever.

In the third of our exclusive interviews to mark the ITV soap’s golden milestone, TV Times caught up with star Claire King, 60, to get the inside story on Kim’s windy wedding and to reflect on her many memorable years in the Dales…

Kim has been planning her wedding for months and isn’t short of cash – is it vintage champagne all round?

Absolutely, and with her and Will’s name on the bottle! It’s quite a spectacle. She gets married in the church and arrives on horseback in an equestrian-themed outfit – it’s one of those iconic looks that Kim likes to have for entrances and exits.

Everyone is invited, but she has golden ticket holders and silver ticket holders – the gold tickets are for the preferred guests. There’s a reception planned at Home Farm but as she and Will come out of the church, the storm picks up and things go awry…

Her mood isn’t as sparkling as the champagne, is it? No, Kim has caught Will and Harriet having a close conversation and a kiss, and she suspects Harriet is trying to wheedle her way back into Will’s affection. Harriet doesn’t seem to be done yet, so Kim is still wary of her as she arrives at the wedding.

Is Kim frightened of losing Will?