Claire King reveals impact of health condition on Emmerdale role

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Emmerdale star Claire King has told how soap bosses work hard to keep her out of the village in the winter because of her rheumatoid arthritis.

The Kim Tate star was diagnosed with the long-term condition when she was in her 20s and explained that being in “cold, damp” weather really affects her.

She opened up on ITV’s Lorraine as she explained the soap’s busy schedule.

What, how, and why?

“We are doing six episodes a week, it’s a couple of movies a week… it’s ridiculous!” she laughed.

King went on: “They are very good at work, the producers, and they try and keep me out of the village as much as possible in winter.

“I kind of say, October to March.”

King told host Ranvir Singh, who was standing in for regular presenter Lorraine Kelly, that she had problems with all of her joints.

“I’m metal Mickey,” she joked, adding that it was “fun at the airport” going through the scanners.

King was cast in Emmerdale back in 1989 and was in the soap for 10 years.

Then in 2018 she got the call asking her to reprise the role of Kim.

“It was perfect timing because I really didn’t want to go trudging around the country living out of a suitcase touring again,” she said.

“I still had my house in Yorkshire, in the Dales, it’s not that far from Leeds.

“So when they said it I just jumped at it, I thought, nice little steady retirement job.”

“How wrong was I?” she laughed.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

The NHS says that rheumatoid arthritis “is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints”.

“The condition usually affects the hands, feet and wrists,” the website says.

“There may be periods where symptoms become worse, known as flare-ups or flares.”

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