Asian family The Sharmas join ITV’s ‘Emmerdale’

An Asian family have joined ITV’s ‘Emmerdale’ soap.

Ambitious siblings Jai, Nikhil and Priya Sharma appeared on our screens this week, to run the new confectionary factory.

Eldest brother Jai will be played by ‘East is East’ star Chris Bisson, Nikhil will be played by Torchwood heartthrob Rik Makarem and their stunning younger sister Priya will be played by ‘Hollyoaks’ in the City actress Effie Woods.

Chris says: “Jai is a bit of a charmer and has an eye for the ladies but he’s also a hard worker with a good business mind. I’m delighted to be joining ‘Emmerdale’ at a time when the show is going from strength to strength.”

Yorkshire-born actor Rik Makarem, 27, says: “Nikhil is a fiercely ambitious and determined individual, but having lived in the shadow of his brother in the past, he has an indomitable spirit and drive to make the factory a success.”

Effie Woods, 28, says: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining ‘Emmerdale’. Priya is fun-loving and fancy-free and I think she’ll be giving her brothers a few headaches in the future! She’s going to be a lot of fun to play.”

Gavin Blyth, ‘Emmerdale’ series producer, says: “The Sharmas are a young, contemporary family independent of their parents and will bring the factory into the heart of the village community. They will add real vitality to life in ‘Emmerdale’.”