Emmerdale star 'welcomed back with warmth' as he returns to soap after 19 years

Daily Mirror

15-05-2025

Emmerdale has seen the return of DS Dasari after the character spent 19 years away from the soap - and now star Stephen Rahman-Hughes has opened up about being back
Emmerdale star Stephen Rahman-Hughes has opened up about returning to the ITV soap after 19 years away - revealing that he's received so much "welcome back warmth".
The actor reprised the role of DS Dasari last week after making his debut on the soap nearly 20 years ago, with his character investigating the death of Jimmy King's murder. Now DS Dasari is investigating Joe Tate being pushed out of a window at Home Farm.
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Taking to Instagram, Stephen wrote last week: "From tonight's episode I'll be appearing on # emmerdale in a role I am reprising from 19 years ago. My second TV job appearing with the incredible @glynisbarber for those that may remember.
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"Sadly Glynis was killed off and couldn't return but I was invited to come back. I had the most fun I've had on a set in a long time. So much welcome back warmth from a superb cast. There's a big crime to solve so watch and see the drama unravel."
Glynis Barber played the role of DS Dasari's colleague Grace Barraclough - who was hit and killed by a lorry back in 2007 after Carl King admitted that he had killed his father Jimmy.
She commented on Stephen's Instagram post: "I hope you laid some flowers for poor old Grace?" To which he responded: "Yes I did say a few words. Grace is missed and remembered with much fondness."
On the soap, fans have watched DS Dasari investigate the attack on Joe - however, everyone he's interviewed so far appears to have water-tight alibis. While we now know that it was actually Dawn who killed the Emmerdale villain, her cover-story seems to have fooled Dasari for now.
Earlier this week, Emmerdale provided an update on Dawn and her ex Billy Fletcher after they covered up pushing Joe Tate out of a window. With Joe due to wake up in the next few days, some viewers think that it won't be long before the heat is back on Dawn.
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Meanwhile, others fear that Billy could meet a grim end as a result of the storyline after he making a threat to ex-wife Dawn. Telling Dawn that he wants full custody of their children, he said after she pleaded to work things out with him: "They are not staying here in this toxic environment. If Joe doesn't throw you to the wolves then I will... unless I get the kids."
On Tuesday, ITV announced that it is to air its first ever crossover between Coronation Street and Emmerdale, with fans able to vote for the characters they would like to see meet and interact.
The hour-long crossover episode will air in January 2026 as ITV and STV announce a new hour of soap schedule, which will see half hour Emmerdale episodes air at 8pm, followed by 30-minute episodes of Coronation Street at 8.30pm.
Producers of the two soaps say the special episode will have 'everlasting consequences for everyone involved', saying the two shows' universes in Manchester and Yorkshire had been linked in an 'ingenious way'.
They say the episode will be self-contained, but its events will have 'repercussions for both communities and see them linked forever as familiar faces depart and exciting new characters arrive into both soaps'.