Emmerdale's Kelli Hollis reveals what it was really like working with 'scary' co-star
Emmerdale actress Kelli Hollis has opened up about her four-year stint on the iconic ITV soap between 2011 and 2015, and working with the iconic Shirley Stelfox
One ex-Emmerdale star has admitted what one "scary" soap icon was really like on set. Actress Kelli Hollis was on the famous soap opera between 2011 and 2015.
Despite not playing the role of Ali Spencer for a decade, she has now spoken about meeting Shirley Stelfox, who played Edna. Kelli's last episodes in the Dales featured her partner, Ruby Haswell (Alicya Eyo), dying in a helicopter crash before deciding to move to Liverpool.
Three years later, while she was still off-screen, her character died in a car crash. Kelli has now spoken about what her first day on set was really like.
Speaking in a new interview, Kelli described her "nerve-wracking" first day. She said: "It was nerve-wracking. I remember meeting the amazing Shirley Stelfox, who played Edna.
READ MORE: Emmerdale's Bradley Johnson secretly plans to elope as cost of UK wedding is 'extortionate'READ MORE: Corriedale first look pictures as first two iconic soap stars taking part revealed"'Everybody sort of warned me, they were like, 'Just so you know, she'll try and freak you out, she'll try and scare you'. So I dipped out into the little smoking quadrant, and there she was. I was so nervous to meet her. I went, 'Hi Shirley, I'm Kelly'.
"She was there with this beautiful mane of hair that you never saw on screen, just sat there and she just went, 'Oh, is it you from that new, horrible effing family?' And I went, 'Yeah I effing am! Do you know what I mean?' And that was it," she told the Daily Mail.
She went on to explain that the funny first impression "bonded" them for the rest of Kelli's time there. Kelli said she "absolutely adored Shirley" while she got the chance to work with her.
Despite this, she admitted that the iconic actress still tried to tease those she worked with. Shirley played Edna in Emmerdale between 2000 and 2015 before dying in December 2015 aged 74 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
As well as Emmerdale, Kelli has bagged some big appearances in Shameless, Waterloo Road, Doctors and Ackley Bridge.
This comes as it was revealed that Coronation Street and Emmerdale were coming together for a cross over episode called Corriedale. This is set to air on ITV in early 2026.
New photos show Corrie's DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) and Emmerdale's Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) as the first two iconic characters to be confirmed as starring in the drama-filled hour long special.
The special episode features a night shoot which shows actors Vicky Myers and Danny Miller together in a rare behind-the-scenes moment.
Speaking of her role in the episode, Vicky said: "To be involved in this unique, bold, innovative, not to mention history-making episode, in Coronation Street’s 65th year, (well, when we are filming it at least), is fantastic.
"When I read the script and found out how two worlds collide, who is involved and how the characters interact, not to mention the impact the events of the night will have… Wow. It’s going to be unmissable."
She continued: "I couldn’t wait to get started actually. This has been in the pipeline for quite some time and the talented team behind the scenes at Coronation Street and Emmerdale, has worked tirelessly to make this happen."
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.