Emmerdale's Leyla star's relaxing Christmas plans ahead of Dancing On Ice

25 December 2023 , 08:00

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Emmerdale's Leyla star's relaxing Christmas plans ahead of Dancing On Ice

Emmerdale's Leyla Harding actress Roxy Shahidi has got a busy 2024 coming up as she's one of the celebrities taking to the ice this January for hit ITV skating series Dancing On Ice.

And as such, the actress, 40, is planning a quiet and relaxing Christmas ahead of a gruelling schedule. Roxy follows in the footsteps of her on-screen soap family as David Metcalfe star Matthew Wolfenden appeared on the show in 2012 and Jacob Gallagher star Joe-Warren Plant competed in 2021.

Speaking to the Mirror and other press about her festive plans, Roxy said: "Just a quiet one, yeah, just nothing big. I feel like everything's been a lot and I'm trying not to do anything too much. It's just family, quiet, cosy, mulled wine, old films from the 80s, just that kind of thing really. No big adventures!"

Emmerdale's Leyla Harding actress Roxy Shahidi has got a busy 2024 coming up (ITV)

Elsewhere, Roxy revealed how appearing on Dancing On Ice will affect her role on Emmerdale. The soap star, who has been a staple in the village since 2008, said: "Emmerdale have been really good because I said right from the beginning my priority is Emmerdale.

"That’s my job and I can’t do three things. I can’t be a mum and learn to ice skate and become an athlete and work full time." Roxy added: "They said to me we haven’t got a massive storyline coming up so we’ll just fit you in. So they’ve allowed me to take that step back in order to focus on Dancing On Ice."

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And Roxy admitted she's feeling the pressure as co-star Matthew previously won Dancing On Ice back in 2012. As well as Matthew, former Emmerdale stars Gaynor Faye won back in 2006 and Hayley Tamaddon won in 2010.

Roxy follows in the footsteps of her on-screen soap family, who have all appeared on Dancing On Ice

The actress quipped: "Everyone from Emmerdale who’s been in it has won apart from Joe, who had to go home because he got Covid. Everyone keeps saying to me: 'Everyone from Emmerdale’s won so you’re going to win' and I’m like: 'I don’t know!'"

Talking about the advice she has received from her co-stars, Roxy said: "Matthew just kept telling me: 'It's really hard work, it's really hard work!' and I'm like: 'Thanks, Matthew!' But yeah, he just said that it's hard work and to make sure you're happy. Don't do too much and don't push yourself too hard too soon because you will get injured.

"Joe said the same, he's really excited. He keeps saying: 'You're going to be amazing, you're going to be amazing!' and I'm like: 'Don't give me that pressure, Joe!' I might be awful, there's a good chance I'm going to be awful but I will do my best."

Olivia Wheeler