ITV soap Emmerdale to feature new lesbian couple

Shameless actress Kelli Hollis and Bad Girls favourite Alicya Eyo have been confirmed to play a lesbian couple in ITV soap Emmerdale.

Hollis will play Ali, the sister of character Rachel Breckle (Gemma Oaten), who is starting a new life with her children after leaving her husband. Eyo will then join the family as Ali's lover, Ruby.

Hollis, who is best known for playing Yvonne Karib in Channel 4's Shameless, told The Sun: "Getting a role as a new regular character for Emmerdale is a dream come true."

Eyo, who has appeared in Bad Girls, Silent Witness and Waterloo Road, added: "Being part of a show I've grown up watching is amazing and Ruby is going to be a lot of fun to play."

ITV has recently faced criticism for having a disproportionate number of gay characters in Coronation Street; the total now being five. Emmerdale has just one gay character currently, Aaron Livesy played by Danny Miller.

Stuart Blackburn defended the decision, saying: "Ali and Ruby are down-to-earth, gritty, funny and likeable and after leaving her husband of 15 years, Ali has a lot riding on making her new life in Emmerdale work."

The couple will be appearing in the show from October.

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