Deena Payne quits Emmerdale after 16 years to help son pass his exams

Aug 17 2008 Laura Davidson

For nearly 16 years, Deena Payne has been dressed up like a Christmas tree as Emmerdale's bold-as-brass postmistress Viv Hope.

But after announcing she is taking a yearlong break, Deena is waving goodbye to her garish garb.

Dressed-down in simple jeans and T-shirt, Deena, 53, one of the show's longest-serving stars, is looking forward to just being a mum.

She said: "I've been on the show for more than 15 years and it's time to just take stock and take a break. My son Will is 15 now - he was only six months old when I landed the job on Emmerdale.

"He's sitting his GCSEs next year and while he'll be glad to hear that I'm not planning to live in his pocket, it will be nice to be around for him in such an important year instead of telling him I don't really have time because I'm learning scripts.

"I've taken this break so I can see my family and I'm so looking forward to that."

But Deena admits it was a sad moment when she stepped out of Viv's high heels on her last day of filming.

"I shed a little tear," she said. "It was traumatic leaving everybody. It's like a big family when you've worked there for so long.

"But I'm in touch with people because a lot of the cast live around the Harrogate area in Yorkshire, the same as me.

"When I'm out for dinner I'm always bumping into people from the show. The difference is though that they look so pale and exhausted and I'm thinking, 'Been there, got the T-shirt'.

"And that's why I've done it. I can feel a difference in my wellbeing already, not having the pressure of having to do something every day.

Following that routine for 15 years is a long time."

Viv's big exit comes this week in a dramatic conclusion to her trial for fraud. She is in the dock after being accused of pocketing charity cash she collected following the death of Vicar Ashley (John Middleton) and Laurel's (Charlotte Bellamy) baby son Daniel.

Viewers know the real culprit is conman Freddie Yorke (Keith Woodason) but even Viv's policewoman daughter Donna Dingle (Verity Rushworth) is struggling to present the concrete evidence that will see him banged up instead of her beloved mum.

Emmerdale insiders are keeping tight-lipped about whether Deena's departure means Viv will be locked up for something she didn't do...or if she will be let off but forced to leave the village in disgrace.

All will be revealed on Wednesday night and there is another unexpected drama for the family as one of Viv's nearest and dearest has a brush with death. Who said village life was sleepy?

Life has hardly been a bed of roses for Viv.

Over the years she's had an affair, been widowed, been taken hostage and found out her son Scott and stepdaughter Kelly were having an affair.

In recent years she has found happiness with new hubby Bob Hope, the dad of her late-in-life twins, Cathy and Heathcliffe.

Deena said: "I've been so lucky with the most fantastic storylines over the years. Viv's been involved in a lot of high drama but there's always been a comic edge to the character too.

"I've done loads of daft stuff over the years, including ending up in a wheelie bin and careering down a zip slide into a mudbath. It's been quite entertaining.

"I've loved Viv's clothes too. When her first husband died, I went to wardrobe and said, 'Right, I want short skirts, high heels and no trousers for Viv'. She needed a new lease of life.

"I've helped choose her outfits. Everything has to match but there has to be something in there that's just a little bit wrong, whether it's earrings that are too big or shoes that are too high.

"I enjoy making it colourful but not too garish. I like to leave that to the Dingles. My fashion sense is obviously different now - I'm rarely out of jeans these days - but in the 80s my fashion sense wouldn't have been all that different to Viv's.

"It has been known for her to turn up in pelmet-like skirts that I had made for myself 30 years ago.

"I can exorcise that side of me through Viv and bring out my inner 60s and 80s girl."

Deena is a bit of a jack of all trades. Before Emmerdale she had a successful stage career and sang, danced and choreographed.

Her other love is alternative therapies - she is a qualified aromatherapist and also practises reiki.

The holistic approach to life is something she shares with her partner of 19 years, musician Steve Grant of rock band The Sweet. He has just qualified as a hypnotherapist and the couple have converted a bedroom in their home into a 'healing room'.

Deena said: "It's a side of myself that I'm hoping to get back. I've missed my aromatherapy and reiki because with Emmerdale I haven't had time for it.

"I only practise on friends and family and it's tremendously rewarding as well as fantastic for stress."

Deena says the pressure of doing five episodes a week has really taken its toll and she is looking forward to a few months off work before she thinks about life after the Dales.

She is not planning to be out of the limelight for too long, though. She added: "If something interesting comes along I'd love to do it. I'd love a really meaty part in a small independent film or maybe something in a costume drama.

"It would be great fun to swap Viv's short skirts for a tight corset. Let's show off the bosom instead of the legs, that would be fun.

"It would have to be something completely different to the part of Viv, though."

And, of course, the door has been left open for Viv's return.

Deena plans to relax and think things over before she makes a decision about whether she'll return next summer.

She added: "I'm really relishing the thought of trying something new but I'll always have a special place in my heart for Viv. She's one of a kind."

"I careered down a zip slide into a mudbath..I've had high drama but always with a comic edge