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Gemma Atkinson hints at possible Hollyoaks return after Strictly success

Going back to her roots?

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Strictly Come Dancing’s Gemma Atkinson has hinted she could be making a return to soap, but the soap in question isn’t Emmerdale, but her first soapy home, Hollyoaks.

Read more: Strictly accused of being rigged as second star is eliminated from the show

Gemma played Lisa Hunter in the Chester-based Channel 4 show for five years and tackled some hard-hitting storylines such as bullying and self-harm.

She last appeared as Lisa in 2006 in Hollyoaks spin-off show, Hollyoaks: In the City, which focused on Lisa and her boyfriend, Ben Davies.

Gemma told Daily Star Sunday that she’d absolutely consider going back to Hollyoaks. She said: “It was the first job I ever did. I absolutely loved it.

“The time at the minute isn’t right, but down the line… I’d never close the door on it. It’s because of that show that I’m here.”

Other Hollyoaks old-school favourites, including Luke Morgan (Gary Lucy) and Mandy Richardson (Sarah-Jayne Dunn) have made successful returns to the teen soap, so there’s no reason Lisa couldn’t rock up in the village again.

She could even be joined by her Emmerdale co-star,  Katherine Dow Blyton AKA Harriet Finch, who played her mum in Hollyoaks.

Gemma is best known these days for her role as Carly Hope in the Dales. She left the soap earlier this year but has said that Carly will definitely return in the future.

She previously said she was 100% certain that Emmerdale hadn’t seen the last of Carly and told the Daily Star Sunday: “I’d love to go back to Emmerdale at some stage.

“They have left the door open to me.

“I miss the cast, but I don’t miss the commute to Leeds every day.”

She added she wasn’t sure what she’d be doing next, but has ruled out appearing on stage in the West End due to her nerves about live performances.

She said: “I don’t think theatre is for me. I get far too nervous doing the live show on Strictly. I think doing a live show every night of the week would just send me to a nervous breakdown.”

Read more: Ruth Langsford is unrecognisable after Strictly make-0ver

For now, we can enjoy watching Gemma strut her stuff on Strictly with partner Aljaz Skorjanec. The pair have been wowing the judges, scoring 31 on Saturday night with their Jungle Book themed routine.

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