James 'born' to play farmer

He's played a policeman, a military investigator and a women's football coach, but James Thornton's role in Emmerdale has got the thumbs up from his wife, Joanna Page.

The Gavin And Stacey star is so impressed with his turn as sexy farmer John Barton since he joined the cast last July, that she reckons he was "born" to play the part.

"I think he was born to play the part of the farmer - he looks amazing and it's nice having a really young family, who are all really attractive as well," she said.

"I just think he looks fantastic as the farmer."

Joanna, who lives in London, is so happy that she doesn't mind being apart from her hubby, who is currently living in Yorkshire, where the ITV soap is filmed.

"He loves it, he's having a brilliant time," she revealed.

"That's where he's from, so it's really nice for him to go back home again. And I'm loving it because we're renting a house up there, and it's really nice to get out of London and go up there with the dog for a bit."

She admitted that the soap is a must-watch in their household.

"I've got it recorded on Sky Plus so I won't watch it for a couple of weeks, and then I have to watch about 24 episodes so I go through it then. Sometimes he watches it back too," she added, with a laugh.

:: Joanna will be starring as Cinderella in the First Family Entertainment production of Cinderella at the New Victoria Theatre in Woking - tickets are available on www.firstfamilyentertainment.co.uk.