Fans of Emmerdale were taken aback when they saw Claire King—best known for her portrayal of Kim Tate—in a rival serial.
A mainstay of the soap opera industry, Claire King is best known for her role as the tough Kim Tate on ITV’s Emmerdale. The sixty-two-year-old actress made her Dales debut in 1989 and quickly rose to prominence.
After a decade of dramatic storylines, Claire departed in 1999 to pursue new ventures but made a triumphant return to the soap 20 years later.
Kim Tate’s tenure on Emmerdale has been nothing short of sensational, with her character embroiled in numerous high-profile plots, including steamy affairs and even staging her own demise.
Currently, she’s at the centre of a gripping plot twist, as it was disclosed this week that she’s the mastermind behind Will’s (played by Dean Andrews) blackmail predicament. Fans have been following the storyline where Will is tormented over his illicit tryst with former flame Rose (portrayed by Christine Tremarco).
Yet, what caught viewers off guard recently was spotting Claire King in an archival episode of another soap Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. On an Emmerdale fan page on Facebook, one eagle-eyed fan shared a snapshot of Claire in Hollyoaks, alongside the caption: “Kim Tate in Hollyoaks.”
Social media buzzed with surprise as fans discussed Claire’s lesser-known stint on Hollyoaks. In the comments, one viewer expressed disbelief: “I watch Hollyoaks and don’t remember her being in it, when was she in it?” Another remarked on her unchanged appearance: “She hasn’t changed.” A third revealed their surprise on the platform: “I didn’t know she was in Hollyoaks!”
In a brief swap from her usual roles, Claire graced Hollyoaks in 2005 as prison governor Andrea Mason QC, featuring in six episodes. Claire’s acting career spans more than just Emmerdale; she has had roles in Coronation Street (Corrie) too.
Her time on the Corrie cobbles lasted from 2014 to 2017 where she portrayed Erica Holroyd, whose character engaged in romantic plots with Weatherfield veterans Nick Tilsley (then played by Ben Price) and Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin).
Claire’s rise to fame began with the girl pop group To Be Continued, which set the stage for her subsequent roles including a part in the 1987 film Eat the Rich, and two years later, landing the iconic role of Kim Tate in Emmerdale.
- “10 Major Emmerdale Spoilers for Next Week”
- “ITV Emmerdale Fans Left Distracted by Tom King Scene Following Belle Dingle Twist”
- “Emmerdale Uncovers the Real Culprit Behind the Sheep Escape – and It Wasn’t Moira”
- “Paramedic Rushes to the Scene as Major Emmerdale Character Suffers Serious Injury”
- “Emmerdale’s Tom King ‘Recast’ Following Belle’s Shocking Murder Plot – With a Familiar Actor”
- Emmerdale Set to Reveal Billy Fletcher’s Dangerous New Secret
