Emmerdale’s Gemma Atkinson turned down a return to the ITV soap because of the "gruelling" hours.
The actress is making a return to Channel 4's Hollyoaks this week after decades away from the programme.
Don't miss the latest Emmerdale news - keep up to date by signing up to our dedicated newsletter here
Gemma will be playing her usual character Lisa Hunter but admitted that she isn't planning a return to Emmerdale anytime soon.
She says there have been talks about her heading back to the ITV hit soap one day, but she is waiting until her daughter Mia gets a little bit older because of the childcare.
Gemma, who played Carly in Emmerdale between 2015 and 2017 told OK! Magazine: "Emmerdale has mentioned me going back, but with soaps the thing that people don’t realise is that the cast and crew do quite gruelling hours.
"What I love now about my job with the radio is I know every single day when I’m going to get home. I can plan my family life and fit being a mum around that job. Maybe when Mia is a bit older and in school I might consider it, but at the minute it’s not practical, especially with Gorka doing a lot of touring and stuff."
Whilst she's not back in the Yorkshire Dales just yet, Gemma is returning to Hollyoaks as Lisa Hunter.
She added: "I started when I was 15 and I’m 37 now, so it’s been a long time. To be honest, it’s come around quite a few times, but I’ve always had lots of other commitments. I didn’t want to turn my back on Hollyoaks.
"It’s because I've been so busy elsewhere. I didn’t want it to ever come across as though, 'I’m far too busy for that now.' It was just a case of wherever I could squeeze it in, I would absolutely love to go back. It felt like I’d never been away."
While filming the soap she explaining how Gorka turned down Strictly Come Dancing tour so she could film Hollyoaks.
The star explained: “He was booked like a nanny for the whole of January! He was asked to do the Strictly tour at the start of the year but he couldn’t do that because he had to be there with Mia. We have to juggle and think, ‘Right, who’s doing this? If you turn down that, I’ll turn down this.’
To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here
