Emmerdale’s new hunk has a Hollywood A-lister for a best friend

EMMERDALE has signed up a new hunk to rock the village – and he’s got a Hollywood A-lister for a best mate.

Actor Lewis Cope will soon join the ITV soap as Manny – male nanny – Nicky.

He is set to catch the eye of millionaire Gabby Thomas as he arrives at Home Farm to help her and frenemy Dawn Taylor deal with their collective brood of children.

After starring in Doctors and Vera, Lewis made a name for himself as a child star.

He played Michael in Billy Elliott in the West End opposite his friend Spider-Man star Tom Holland.

Emmerdale boss Jane Hudson teased his arrival, saying: “Lewis Cope is playing the nanny at Home Farm. 

“I think it is the first time Home Farm has had a nanny. 

“He’s a very good-looking nanny who captures the eye of Gabby the minute he walks in for the interview.

“It is plain for everyone to see that her focus is not on who will look after the children the best but on who will look after her the best. There’s lots of fun in-store.”

Lewis added: “I was absolutely over-the-moon when I found out I’d be joining the cast. 

“I think everyone has been lovely. Nicky is a great character, he’s very relatable and likeable and I’m just having fun with him.”

However Lewis also warned that Nicky may not be all that he seems.

The actor teased: “He’s a lovely person and he’s almost too good to be true but you’ll have to wait and see.” 

But he was thrilled when he learned he had got the role.

Lewis said: “I was on set filming something for ITV and I got the call. I was trying to ring everyone and nobody answered. I think a couple of hours later I got through to my friend John who answered the phone and I was like ‘alright okay, I’ll tell you then’.”

He added: “It is a massive show, my family have watched it before and my nanny loves it. So, it is nice that my nanny will be able to watch it and, yeah, I’ve watched it before.”