'Shouting all day is very cathartic!'

Actor Claire King reveals the benefits of playing Emmerdale’s ‘queen of mean’ Kim Tate

- SUE CRAWFORD

There are countless ways to de-stress after a hard day's work. Some people slump on the sofa in front of the TV, others try a relaxing hot bath or reach for a glass of wine.

But Emmerdale actor Claire King doesn't need to employ any of those methods. For after a busy day scheming, plotting and arguing as bad girl Kim Tate, Claire has got rid of all her tension before she even sets foot in her door.

'It's very cathartic when I've had a day shouting at someone, she laughs. 'I can be as nasty and horrible as I want, because the lines are all there, and I can give all these death stares and call people names, and then I go home and I'm quite content. I don't have to shout at my partner - he's very grateful!'

'I'm actually not one for rows in real life; I avoid arguments and confrontation, so it gets everything out of my system.

Clearly Claire and Kim are two very different people, but not all of the show's viewers are able to make the distinction and Claire still hasn't forgotten the time that one irate Emmerdale fan hit her over the head with an umbrella.

'It was very strange - abuse, in fact!' she chuckles. *People assume I'm going to be exactly like Kim, and then they hear me laugh or swear and I can see them thinking, "That's not Kim Tate." Well, no, it's not actually!'