Emmerdale stars reveal whether they’d do Strictly after ITV rule change

Emmerdale's Lawrence Robb is making history as the first ITV soap star to compete in Strictly Come Dancing after the broadcaster relaxed its rules to allow actors from its soaps to take part while still being on them (although he has temporarily been written out).

Now that the floodgates are open, would his co-stars follow in his footsteps by stepping on the dancefloor?

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy on the red carpet of the Inside Soap Awards this week, both Bradley Riches and Emma Atkins didn't rule themselves out, but didn't exactly pitch themselves to the Strictly casting team either.

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"I feel like for me, I love a little dance, I like a little boogie. It’s inevitable – maybe when I'm 60, who knows?" Lewis Barton actor Riches said.

"I'm very excited about all these opportunities that we're allowed to do now. Fingers crossed one day."

Atkins added: "I mean, I'd never say never, but I'd rather go and get lessons and not be filmed doing it!

"But then the world loves Strictly – I just don't know if I'd be okay with the pressure. I'd rather watch other people do it, sit at home with my son and watch it. But never say never!"

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In terms of whether they think Robb can win the competition, Riches said: "He's got it in him, we're all going to be behind him, we're all going to be supporting him, and who knows?"

He did say that Robb was "very camp" in what we've seen so far, but thinks that his co-star needs "more sparkles though".

Atkins thinks that viewers will fall in love with her on-screen husband, stating: "He's so gorgeous. I think the viewers are going to love him because he's just such a good guy.

"He's got the moves, but I think he's going to go on a journey where he gets better and better and better. I don't think I've ever seen Lawrence dance! But I think he'll absolutely win the hearts of the audience."

The first Strictly Come Dancing live show of this year kicks off at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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