Emmerdale star Jay Kontzle reluctant over Billy's new baby story
Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale star Jay Kontzle has joked that he isn't happy over his character Billy Fletcher's new baby storyline.
Billy and his wife Dawn have just discovered that they're expecting a child together, which led to celebrations at Home Farm in Thursday's episode (July 6).
In real life, Jay and his wife Mimi welcomed the arrival of their third child in November last year.
When Emmerdale's executive producer Jane Hudson told Jay about Billy's new storyline, the busy dad was quick to point out that it was close to home.
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Jay told Digital Spy and other press: "I felt like the show was doing me over, to be honest! I got the news and I was like: 'Come on, Jane, you're killing me here!'
"Billy is quite sound and he's a nice guy. I'm obviously a nice guy too, but my kids do my head in and they stress me out! We're just putting a cot together at the minute and it's been a nightmare, it's killing us. The kids are being naughty already.
"To find out: 'So I'm going to go home, deal with my kids, and then I'm going to come in to work the next day and deal with three other kids myself and just do the same thing?'
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"Mabel and Noah, who play Clemmie and Lucas, are very good and fun to work with. They do a great job, so we're blessed in that area, so long as this new baby isn't a pain.
"I don't care if it's just been born, this baby can't be testing me!"
He then laughed: "I'm only joking… or am I?"
Jokes aside, Jay suggested that the new story could help to cement Billy and Dawn's position as a strong family in the show.
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He said: "I'm really excited. Realistically, the dynamic of having a family in the show, it's sustainability.
"The next step is for us to get a house. We're in Home Farm and it's like a hotel. I don't even know where my bedroom is, I've never even seen it, I haven't got a clue!
"In terms of dynamics and the story itself, it's a great move for the characters."
Next week's episodes see Billy and Dawn face a tough time as they speak to Clemmie and Lucas about the baby news.
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Clemmie fears that she'll be pushed out of the family once the new baby arrives. In an uncharacteristic outburst, Clemmie pushes a dining stool into Dawn's stomach, causing her to be rushed to hospital.
A check-up confirms that Dawn and the baby are both fine, but a guilty Clemmie is unaware of this and decides to run away.
Jay added: "It's the second time Clemmie has run away! Dawn and Billy are broken by it – it's the self-guilt. They think it's the way they've explained it and put it across.
"They've taken it for granted that Clemmie would be okay. They thought they could paper over the cracks and celebrate the next day, assuming she's slept on it. When it hits home that Clemmie has run away, they think it's their fault that she's gone and they need to get her back.
"In any situation like this in real life, you're going to be all over the place. The anxiety is going to be through the roof – the repercussions, how will Clemmie respond when they get her back, or will she ever come back?"
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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