ITV/Shutterstock/Comp Emmerdale Insider Share By Kerry Barrett Dec 11 2025 By Carena Crawford Dec 11 2025 By Kerry Barrett Dec 11 2025 By Carena Crawford Dec 11 2025 Who's had an Emmerdale cameo? From Jason Donovan to The Vivienne and Marti Pellow all the famous faces that have appeared From Katherine Jenkins to Marti Pellow and The Vivienne Features Share By Kerry Barrett Dec 11 2025 By Carena Crawford Dec 11 2025 By Kerry Barrett Dec 11 2025 By Carena Crawford Dec 11 2025 Soapland is known for a good cameo and Emmerdale is no different – just take Jason Donovan appearing this very December! In fact, when it comes to Emmerdale, there seem to have been more famous faces visiting the Dales than have popped into Weatherfield or Walford. So as Jason steals the show – and Bob’s limelight – here’s our round up of all the familiar faces you may have spotted over the years! Jason Donovan puts on a show for the Woolpack punters (Credit: ITV) Jason Donovan appears in Emmerdale Super-Jason fan Lydia Dingle was recently devastated when she missed out on tickets to his concert. Sam tried to get them for her, but was scammed out of his money and came home with no tickets. Lydia resigned herself to missing out on her dream night, but Kim Tate stepped in and on Thursday December 11 Jason performs at the Woolpack especially for Lydia. She is thrilled and overwhelmed by the gesture as Jason belts out one of his most famous tracks and gets everyone in the festive spirit at the Christmas Fayre. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Sir Lindsay Hoyle guested in Emmerdale earlier this year (Credit: ITV) Politicians join in too! A senior UK politician makes an unexpected cameo in Emmerdale back in January 2025 – with Sir Lindsay Hoyle popping by the Hide for a fresh cuppa. The Speaker of the House of Commons previously spoke of the importance of soaps such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street. He described them as “an important part of the fabric of British society and the economic contribution they bring to the North”. Dressed in a tweed jacket and wellington boots, Sir Lindsay took a diversion from his hike to order a cup of tea in the Hide. While there, he complimented Laurel on a good cup of Yorkshire tea. Sir Lindsay described the great importance of Emmerdale to British culture. He said: “Incredibly, Emmerdale has been on our screens for more than half a century. Shining a light on the lived experience of others; entertaining viewers with its hard-hitting storylines, while also making a major economic contribution to the North.” He continued: “It has been an honour to help the cast celebrate the 10,000th episode of this enduring Yorkshire-based soap, with a visit to the Woolpack. As a Lancastrian, I am hugely impressed by the talent and warmth of our friends on ‘the other side’ of the Pennines.” Katherine Jenkins sang at a pageant in the village (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Celebrity chefs cameo in Emmerdale Marlon Dingle’s vocation in the kitchen has led to some celebrity encounters. In 2005, he met Aldo Zilli at a cookery competition and Antony Worrall Thompson showed up in 2008 when the Woolpack was nominated as Pub of the Year. Antony tried to tempt Marlon to become a TV chef but he decided to stay put! Marti Pellow came to serenade Kathy Glover before she went to Australia (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Pop stars in Emmerdale Emmerdale’s regular village events mean there have been lots of opportunities for popstars to visit. Who can forget the tragic episode featuring Katherine Jenkins? She was closing the Emmerdale pageant in 2007, singing Time to Say Goodbye, as Len Reynolds died from a heart attack and was driven away. SOB! Happier cameos include The Proclaimers and Scouting for Girls. They performed at a festival at Home Farm, organised by Declan Macey and his sister Megan, in 2012. The special episodes were part of the celebrations for Emmerdale’s 40th anniversary. In 2001, teen hearthrob Marti Pellow serenaded Kathy Glover at her leaving party, while in 2005, Diane Sugden fessed up to having a fling with Tony Christie when he dedicated a song to her in his concert. And Spice Girl Mel B was an extra on Emmerdale before making it big as Scary Spice! Hunter the Gladiator took part in a tug of war in the village! (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Sports people We all know Yorkshire’s not short of sporting legends and there have a been a few cameos from all kinds of champions since the show began. Chris Kamara was “unbelievable” when his football team took on Bear’s back in 2019! And in 2014, Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton visited the village, as a nod to the Tour de France which started in Yorkshire that year. Chris Kamara played in the village football match (Credit: ITV) And there’s more sporting cameos in Emmerdale Winding the clock back further, rugby star Martin Offiah arrived in 1996 to play a ‘friendly’ charity match with some of the drinkers from the Woolpack. He even managed to send Mandy Dingle flying when he scored a try! And in 1995 Hunter from Gladiators took part in a village tug of war! That same year Ian Botham opened the newly refurbished Woolpack, while fellow cricketer Fred Trueman appeared in the show back in 1987. Meanwhile before she won gold at the Olympics, Nicola Adams worked as an extra. She appeared in Coronation Street and Emmerdale but once she’d won her medal she had to retire from being a background artist because she was too recognisable! The Vivienne took Emmerdale by storm! (Credit: ITV) Other famous faces who have had an Emmerdale cameo Doctor Who star Colin Baker appeared in an episode in 2021 as Diane Sugden’s date. While actor and dad of Cherie Blair, Tony Booth was in Emmerdale in 2007. He played a homeless man called Errol, who may or may not have been a ghost. No, we don’t remember that either. Perhaps we’ve blocked it out?! Lionel Blair, who’s no relation to Cherie as far as we know, played himself in 2008. He judged a dancing competition in the village hall. Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley interviewed Gloria Pollard in 2002, and Fern and Phil interviewed Alan Turner on This Morning in 2005. Alan was talking about the disappearance of his fiancée Shelley Williams. When the episodes were aired again recently, as Classic Emmerdale, Phillip Schofield was edited out. Drag queen The Vivienne visited the village for Emmerdale’s first Pride in 2021. The late star, who died in January 2025 made history when the village came together for its first Pride event. The Vivienne was the special guest booked to attend. Dancing on Ice faves Torvill and Dean appeared in 2023 (Credit: ITV) Back in 2023 Torvill and Dean showed off their ice dancing skills for evil abuser Tom King (if only they’d known what he was really like, eh?) as Belle proposed on the ice. Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Good to Know Share By Kerry Barrett Dec 11 2025 By Carena Crawford Dec 11 2025 By Kerry Barrett Dec 11 2025 By Carena Crawford Dec 11 2025 Previous Story Next Story
