Former Coronation Street actor Paula Lane has been announced as joining the cast of Emmerdale.

She will play the character Ella Forster, who ITV have described as “compassionate and caring”.

Lane played the role of Kylie Platt on Coronation Street for more than 600 episodes between 2010 and 2016.

She was married to David Platt on the show before she was killed off in a fatal stabbing.

How will Paula Lane join Emmerdale?

Paula's character Ella is said to stick up for Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) at a veterinary ball and loses her job as a result.

Mandy will be at the event with her partner, Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt).

Ella soon meets local doctor Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) which will lead to an “opportunity” in the forthcoming episodes.

Discussing joining the ITV soap Lane said: “I’m so excited to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. Everyone has been so welcoming and I can’t wait to start a new chapter playing the role of Ella.

“I’ve already heard there are big plans for her and I can’t wait to see her navigate a new life in the village and hopefully make some friends.”

The 37-year-old has appeared in several theatre productions in the last few years.

This has included parts in a production of Road at the Oldham Coliseum theatre, Queen Bess during Big Clock Productions’ stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and #BeMoreMartyn at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester

Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks said: “Ella is a complex and multi-layered character who comes to the village and certainly makes an impact.

“Ostensibly she’s a good, moral character, but is there more to her than meets the eye? We are absolutely thrilled to welcome an actor of Paula’s calibre to the show and we can’t wait to have her light up our screens.”

Emmerdale will begin filming with Lane this month with episodes of the soap airing weekday nights at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.