Her reappearance will also shed light on the sour demeanour of Ed, played by Robert Bathurst, when it’s revealed that she left him for a younger man. The arrival of Fiona in the show is set to shake up the character dynamics at Leopard’s Den and inject some new energy into the Wild at Heart characters’ lives, as she’s said to be both quick-witted and a “terrible flirt”. But I think it will be a great experience and I’m looking forward to embracing it.” “I’ve been told it is pretty difficult to get used to at first – delivering a scene with an elephant stood next to you. “The wild animal aspect will be something different,” Jill said. The plains are a far cry from her normal TV work, which includes shows such as Byker Grove, Coronation Street, EastEnders and Waterloo Road. It seems like a really fun and friendly place to work.”Īnd while she’s looking forward to working with some of Africa’s spectacular wild animals, the actress also has a few reservations. “I am really looking forward to getting involved with the show, it’s a programme that I know well and I have met a few of the cast already. “I’m very lucky to be away in the sun for the winter, although I’ll be back home for Christmas. “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the cast of Wild At Heart in Africa,” said the 36-year-old, who triumphed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004.

The 10 hour-long episodes of the drama are being filmed on location at Glen Afric, Africa. Jill, who is based in London, flies out next week to begin filming the new series. She joins Stephen Tompkinson, Dawn Steele, Hayley Mills and Deon Stewardson in the seventh series of the popular ITV1 drama, to be screened next year. Gateshead-born Jill – who was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Gateshead this month – is set to play Ed Lynch’s estranged wife Fiona in the show, set in Africa. TYNESIDE actress Jill Halfpenny is set to star in the ITV drama Wild at Heart.

Cast 0f wild at heart