I was on Emmerdale for four years – one iconic star showed their true colours on the ITV set when the cameras stopped rolling

Emmerdale star Kelli Hollis has opened up about her four-year stint on the ITV soap and recalled an iconic star showing her true colors on set.

The 49-year-old actress played Ali Spencer in the ITV series between 2011 and 2015.

Kelli’s last appearance in the Dales was ten years ago, after her partner Ruby Haswell (Alicya Eyo) died in a helicopter crash and she decided to move to Liverpool.

Three years later, while off-screen, his alter ego died in a car accident.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail about her time on the ITV show, Kelli recalled her first day on set and there was one star in particular who made her day even more special.

Kelli said: ‘It was frustrating. I remember meeting the wonderful Shirley Stelfox who played Edna.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail about her time on the ITV show, Kelli recalled her first day on set and in particular it was star actress Shirley Stelfox (pictured) who made her day extra special.

Shirley Stelfox (pictured) passed away in December 2015

‘Everyone warned me, they said, ‘Just so you know, he’s going to try to scare you, he’s going to try to scare you.’

‘So I ducked into the little smoking section and there it was. I was so nervous to meet him.

“Hi Shirley, I’m Kelly,” I said.

‘There she was with that beautiful mane of hair that you’ve never seen on screen, and she just sat there and said, ‘Oh, are you from that new, scary, impressive family?’

‘And I went, yes I am going! Do you know what I mean?” And that was it.

‘And that’s what kind of bonded us the whole time I was there.

‘I absolutely adored Shirley.

‘Honestly, he just did this to make fun of you and scare you a bit.

Kelli’s first scene on the series was also pretty big; The shooting was done in the most well-known location of the series.

‘But I absolutely loved Shirley. ‘It’s a shame he’s not with us anymore, but I remember it happening on my first day.’

Shirley played Edna in Emmerdale between 2000 and 2015.

The soap legend passed away in December 2015, aged 74, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Kelli’s first scene on the series was also pretty big; The shooting was done in the most well-known location of the series.

He told us: ‘I think it was a Woolpack scene, you know, the one that takes you to the deep end.

‘When you walk into the wool pack filled with so many iconic faces, you recognize people you’ve seen all your life.

‘It’s like you know them, because if you’re a big soap fan you know these people, these characters, it was so welcoming inside and out.

‘It felt like you were there forever, if you know what I mean.’

When asked if there were any other mistakes on set, Kelli said: ‘I remember at the beginning they hit someone.

‘I remember having to shoot a scene in the village with Tom Lister, who played Carl King.

‘For some reason I had to go out and punch him. I remember it didn’t go very well for the first few takes.

‘I’m still little, but this didn’t work very well the first morning.’

As well as Emmerdale, Kelli has also appeared in Shameless, Waterloo Road, Doctors and Ackley Bridge.

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and can be watched on ITVX.