'MY MUM IS MY GREATEST FAN'

Down-to-earth Emmerdale actor Jonny McPherson on his steamy new storyline and why he gets emotional playing dramatic scenes

- CHRISTINE SMITH

Ever since Jonny McPherson first made an appearance on Emmerdale back in 2014, the actor has had his fair share of traumatic scenes. Jonny plays the soap’s resident medic, Dr Liam Cavanagh, who, since 2018, has gone on to become a major character.

From the murder of Liam’s daughter, Leanna, two years ago by psychopath Meena Jutla, to his subsequent depression and mental health battle trying to come to terms with Leanna’s death, Jonny, 41, admits it has been tough at times not to bring the hard-hitting storylines home with him.

But now in scenes that wouldn’t look out of place on a Carry On film set, Liam is embarking on a passionate affair with nurse Wendy Posner (Susan Cookson) behind the back of her unsuspecting partner Bob Hope.

They bond when Wendy unearths Liam’s secret hobby  – he’s been writing murder-mystery stories under the pseudonym of Anna Le Monde. When she starts suggesting racy ideas herself, they soon find themselves letting fiction roll over into their own lives.

For Jonny, the hilarious scenes that will air over the coming weeks have been a joy to play.

“I actually only expected to ever be in Emmerdale for three months when I first joined,” he explains. “Every time I sign a new contract, I am delighted.

“Over the next few weeks there’s going to be a lot of campness going on with Liam. He has started submitting stories to Murder Most Murky and when Wendy realises it’s him, she starts talking about racy stuff that gets him fired up. It ignites him and you soon see him walking past an empty champagne bottle and her on the surgical table under a mac!