Besides Poldark and his big scythe, few shows have done more for the reputation of farmers than Emmerdale.
Their reputation in the heart-throb stakes, that is.
In its 50 years, the tiny Yorkshire village has had so many hunks, there really must be something in the water.
From Frazer Hines’ 1970s Joe Sugden entertaining ladies on his fireside rug, and 90s pin-up Noah Huntley as the tormented Luke McAllister, to recent stars such as Matthew Wolfenden (David Metcalfe), and Strictly’s Kelvin Fletcher (Andy Sugden), the soap has more good genes than a Levis shop.
Now the latest to leave hearts racing in the Dales is Jayme “Jay” Kontzle, who has been delighting viewers as Billy Fletcher since 2018.
His future is set to be thrown into turmoil next week, like all the cast, when a superstorm strikes, as part of the soap’s breathtaking 50th anniversary episodes, starting on Sunday.
But fortunately, there is little that can throw Jay, 32, off balance – because he has had secret training as a stuntman, his one-time dream career.
Speaking to The Mirror for the final part of our special three-day series to mark the show’s incredible milestone, Jay says: “The 50th is filled with a lot of exciting and scary moments, we have to bring the fireworks.
“I was planning on being a stuntman at some point in my career.
“So during the pandemic, I looked up a few places I could go to learn how to do some stunts as a way of improving my craft!”
Jay can’t let slip who makes it through the storm and who doesn’t, but he’s hoping if and whenever he does leave Emmerdale, he goes out with a big bang, doing his own stunts Tom Cruise-style.
“When I’m on the way out and they make Billy fall down the stairs or die in some big stunt week I would like to be able to do it myself,” he laughs.
Jay’s been at the centre of the action during his time in the Dales, as things have been very up and down – usually down – for estate manager Billy.
He has been involved with now deceased bent copper DI Malone, been cheated on by his partners and fell foul of serial killer Meena Jutla. Earlier this year, Billy also had a heartbreaking, and taboo-breaking, storyline where he asked his wife Dawn ( Olivia Bromley ) if they could start a family but his spouse refused. It is an issue that had rarely been seen on soaps, but something thousands of couples have to navigate.
Away from the Dales, Jay is about to become a dad for the third time, after his artist wife Mimi called him out of the blue on his lunchbreak and gave him the good news. “It was a surprise,” says Jay, who is already dad to daughter KaiBo, six, and son Zian, four.
“We’re having a little boy. We are just going to wing it. With it being our third child, we have certain things in place – but it’s the no sleep which I’m not looking forward to,” he says.
Not that he has had time for much rest. Billy’s the son of Jessie Dingle (Sandra Marvin), and tonight and tomorrow features the Dingle clan in emotional scenes with cancer-stricken matriarch Faith Dingle ( Sally Dexter ).
In Sunday’s hour-long special, Billy is right in the thick of it again – as best man for father-in-law Will (Dean Andrews) as he ties the knot with villainous Kim Tate (Claire King).
“They are veterans of the game and getting the opportunities to do small scenes with them is just incredible,” says Jay, whose first big break is Emmerdale. “Spending time with them has been a real learning thing for me.”
Jay’s also developed a firm friendship with Jeff Hordley (bad boy Cain Dingle), with the pair even producing their first movie together.
Called Bring Back My Bonnie, the short film tells the story of a man with dementia, who speaks to his dead wife to keep her memory alive. It stars Not Going Out actor Timothy West and the former Coronation Street actress Angela Lonsdale.
Jay says: “The film came about because I woke up at 4am with an idea, which is something I do a lot, then I found the director Mark Waters. He was a mutual friend of me and Jeff, so I asked Jeff if he wanted to come on in a producer role.
“Jeff really was incredible – he really had a passion for what we were doing. We have a really great relationship.”
In Emmerdale, Cain was Billy’s boss. “But on this film Jeff was working for me, which was amazing,” laughs Jay.
He is working on producing another drama series, but can’t see himself doing the same for Emmerdale. He says: “Emmerdale is a lot more fast-paced. It’s a different kettle of fish.”
Jay also confesses he is not a big soap lover – but he does think ITV ’s Emmerdale is the best to work for.
He adds: “It’s the best soap you can possibly be on. It’s not just manufactured sets, it feels like home and an actual lived-in village.
“The storylines are consistently relevant to every generation and I feel like it has adapted to changing times well.”
Jay adds: “It’s been non-stop for me since I came in to Emmerdale almost four years ago. I’ve just loved it.”
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Stars who went from farm to film
Jay and Jeff aren’t the only Emmerdale alumni to hit the big screen. Joanne, 61, who played Angela Read in 1977, has enjoyed a Hollywood career after hits with 1988’s Willow, and 1989’s Scandal (as Christine Keeler). She has a son with her ex-husband Val Kilmer.
Jenna Coleman
Jenna, 36, landed the part of Jasmine Thomas in 2005 - her first professional acting job. After leaving the soap in 2009, she became Doctor Who assistant Clara, and Quctoria, but also appeared in movies including Captain America: The First Avenger and Me Before You.
Amy Nuttall
After shooting to fame on Emmerdale in the role of Chloe Atkinson between 2000 and 2005, Amy, 40, has become a household name with a role in Downton Abbey. In 2017, she starred in French drama film After The War with James Bond star Giancarlo Giannini.
Anna Friel
in 1992 - before Brookside - Anna, 46, was best known as Emmerdale’s Poppy Bruce. She’s since appeared in films including Limitless alongside Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro and The Look of Love with Steve Coogan.
Box out two Film stars to farm star
And the Emmerdale stars past and present who have done it the other way round...
Patsy Kensit
Before taking on the role of scheming Sadie King in Emmerdale from 2004 to 2006, Former child star-turned-Hollywood darling Patsy, 54, was used to life on the big screen. Roles included Lethal Weapon 2 and Absolute Beginners.
Chris Chittell
Chris might be Emmerdale’s longest-serving cast member, but he began his career long before Eric Pollard ever set foot in the Dales. He was just 19 when he appeared alongside Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier in the 1967 film To Sir, With Love, and 22 when starring with Dame Joanna Lumley in 1970’s The Breaking of Bumbo.
Michael Wildman
The 52-year-old joined Emmerdale as bad boy Al Chapman in 2019, having previously had roles in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and the 2012 film remake of cop show The Sweeney.
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