Rhona Goskirk is shocked when Pierce Harris’ son arrives unexpectedly in upcoming Emmerdale scenes.
Marcus Dean’s presence in the village comes as a huge shock as he drops a huge bombshell.
Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks has revealed that while his arrival will certainly bring a lot of drama to the soap, there is more to him than meets the eye.
She explained: “Marcus’ arrival will certainly ruffle a few feathers and flutter a few hearts in the village.
“However, people will soon realise there’s more to Marcus than merely being the son of Pierce.”
Pierce was one of Emmerdale’s most villainous characters, but in real life, actor Jonathan Wrather is worlds away from his onscreen counterpart with roles in rival soaps, a sweet family life in Cheshire and a surprise career u-turn.
Shock return
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale fans were shocked in 2020 after Pierce made a return to the village and killed Graham Foster.
However, the actor revealed on ITV daytime programme This Morning that the soap team went to great lengths to keep his return a secret in order to surprise fans and the cast.
He said at the time: “There was so much secrecy shrouding the whole event, I even had an alias in the script – half the cast didn’t even know I was there.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“I was sneaking in the side entrance to the studios.”
Jonathan added: “So a lot of people didn’t know I was there, and when they were reading ‘Mark TBA’, which was my alias, no-one really twigged who it was for quite some time.
“It was all kind of kept secret in the building and everywhere else. I think it has kind of worked out!”
Rival soap role
(Image: Getty Images)
A few years before Jonathan stepped into the dales as evil Pierce, the actor had a role in another popular rival soap.
He played another villain,Joe Carter, in Coronation Street from 2002 until 2003.
His character arrived in Weatherfield after a stint in jail and then left the street abruptly one year later, after scamming the Underworld Factory.
Along with his famous soap roles, Joe has had a successful career both onstage and on screen, appearing in TV series including Cracker, Young Dracula, Family Affairs and Silent Witness.
(Image: Getty Images)
He is also listed as appearing in The Laura Marlin Mysteries: Dead Man’s Cove, which is a TV film currently in post-production.
The actor has also appeared in theatre productions such as The Picture of Dorian Gray, which he said has relevance in an online world.
He told Great British Life: “We all like to present a perfect image of ourselves, if we can, on social media, whereas the truth can be a little different.
“There is that element to it, so there is a contemporary relevance. It throws up all kinds of issues of narcissism.”
Co-star romance
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
While playing Joe in Corrie, Jonathan began a co-star romance with fellow cast member Suranne Jones, who played Karen McDonald.
They began dating in 2004 after Jonathan joined the soap as Karen’s on screen lover, but their romance continued off the cobbles too.
However, despite going on holiday to try and save their relationship, the couple split up in 2005, with Jonathan telling The Sun at the time: “It has been a difficult time. We are still trying to work things out.”
Career u-turn
(Image: Redmedy On The Park)
Although Jonathan is keeping a foot in the acting world, he surprised fans when he made a career U-turn in 2021 and opened up his own business.
The actor runs a mobile juice and coffee bar called Remedy On The Park, which aims to promote “health, wellness and sustainability.”
He sells a variety of juices and “nutritious treats” from his van, including smoothies, salted almond chocolate bars and a banana pecan loaf.
Jonathan revealed that he was inspired to set up the business, after he moved from London to Alderley Edge in Cheshire.
His website states: “[Moving] five years ago with a young family, we spent a lot of time in the village park,” adding that he missed “a quality cup of coffee and snacks.”
Family life
(Image: Getty Images)
Jonathan was born and raised in Mobberley and Twemlow in Cheshire before moving to London to kickstart his acting career.
However, he recently revealed to Great British Life in 2021 that he and his family had moved back to the region.
After living in London for 30 years, he and his wife Kathi moved with their two children to Alderley Edge in Cheshire, with the actor regularly sharing snaps of their life there on social media.
Photographs on Twitter have included gorgeous views of the Cheshire countryside, as well as Jonathan’s Triumph Bonneville T100 motorbike parked beside a lake.
Not only that, but his famous neighbours are also reported to include Coleen Rooney and many reality TV stars.
Following their move to Cheshire, Jonathan’s wife also started her own ballet-inspired fitness business with Jonathan’s close friend, and famous actress, Sarah Parish.
Jonathan told Great British Life: “My wife is now co-owner of Barrecore and they have a studio in Alderley and Hale and a space in Manchester.
“That was one of the other reasons to move north.”
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
