Emmerdale favourite Louise Jameson confirms her new cast contract for "poignant" Mary Goskirk storyline

Louise Jameson has signed on the dotted line to continue playing Mary Goskirk in Emmerdale.

The character first arrived on the ITV soap in 2022, having been estranged from her daughter Rhona (Zoe Henry) for a number of years. She soon struck up a friendship with Kim Tate (Claire King), and in emotional scenes, revealed she is a lesbian.

She eventually began a relationship with Faye Helders (Jane Gurnett), though friend Suzy Merton (Martelle Edinborough) warned that she wasn't a good person. Mary, wanting to see the best in her new love interest, ignored these concerns.

Faye would go on to attack and rob Mary, and after she was reported to the police, blackmailed her with a nude photograph. The revenge porn was eventually released, and Mary was supported by her love ones.

Now, a new story is on the horizon – meaning that Mary will be on our screens for at least another year.

"I was called up three weeks ago [and] they've definitely renewed my contract. I've got a beautiful story coming up," Jameson told Inside Soap.

"It's very poignant, but that's all I am allowed to say. I'm really excited and I was surprised. The story is educating me – it's something I've never heard of.

"We'll be filming this new story around Christmas but it's a new year story. I have a lot to do with Zoe [Henry, who plays Rhona], which is my dream place to be!"

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Jameson also revealed that she'd pitched a story of two, including more scenes with Claire King.

"Not a love affair – Mary isn’t going to turn Kim!" she said. "I love it when I get a scene with Claire."

Mary isn't the actresses first Emmerdale role. Just three months after the show began, she played Annie Sugden's (Sheila Mercier) second cousin Sharon Crossthwaite across four episodes in 1973.

Sharon became the soap's first murder victim, having been sexually assaulted and then attacked by a man named Jim Latimer.

Jameson has had a string of notable roles following that, from warrior Leela in Doctor Who to Rosa di Marco in EastEnders.

Read more:

• Emmerdale confirms return of classic rogue Steve Marchant after 27 years away from ITV soap
• Emmerdale airs surprise and unannounced return of legendary character eight months after exit in early ITVX release
• Emmerdale star teases "rocky road" for Sarah Sugden - and reveals hopes for Debbie Dingle return

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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Authors

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.