Emmerdale has made a big move, with former Waterloo Road star Jason Done being cast in a new role. Though the specifics are yet to be detailed, his arrival is set to be part of a major new storyline for the ITV soap.
The actor portrayed Tom Clarkson on the BBC drama for seven years before departing in 2013, but will trade the school system for the Yorkshire Dales as he is set to play a new villain.
A spokesperson for ITV confirmed to Digital Spy that Done will be playing Steve, who is said to have a surprising connection to the village. His stint on the ITV soap will be brief, but could have a major impact further down the line.
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In addition to his role on Waterloo Road, Done has also appeared in other soaps such as Coronation Street and Casualty. His TV credits include The Bill and Death in Paradise, while he recently played JRR Tolkien in 2025 film Fackham Hall.
Upon his exit from Waterloo Road in 2013, the actor said: "People think I'm an absolute idiot for leaving Waterloo Road, but hopefully I'll prove them wrong. It wasn't an easy decision, but you have to take risks and spice things up a bit."
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"I love Tom and my last day on set was very emotional, but I want to do all the things that initially appealed to me about becoming an actor, like taking on new projects and stepping out of my comfort zone," he added.
Done's Steve will be the latest character to arrive in the Dales, with the most recent new arrival being Serena Sugden. The character, played by Casey Al-Shaqsy, made her debut last month, but is proving to be an enigmatic figure.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining such an iconic show and playing a Sugden," said the actor. "Serena is a fantastic character with so much going on beneath the surface. I can't wait for the audience to see the drama unfold."
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"The Sugdens are a core part of the Emmerdale fabric, and we are thrilled to welcome Casey to the family," added producer Laura Shaw, who teased that Serena would be at the heart of some extremely gripping and unexpected storylines".
With little known about either Done's new character Steve or Serena's mysterious past, could his arrival in the village be a part of her storyline? Or will it be the start of a new narrative altogether?
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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