Jennifer Metcalfe is best known for playing Mercedes McQueen in Hollyoaks. But eagle-eyed viewers have spotted her playing Jade Nicholls in episodes of Classic Emmerdale at the moment.
So who was Jade?
And how did Jennifer make the move from Emmerdale guest star to Hollyoaks star?
Jennifer Metcalfe in Emmerdale
Jennifer Metcalfe played Jade Nicholls in Emmerdale.
Jade was at school with Katie Addyman – Andy Sugden’s then girlfriend and eventually his wife.
At the time, Katie had just turned 16 and she was pregnant with Andy’s baby. She and Andy had broken up – briefly – but reunited.
As the new school year dawned, Katie went back to school, only to be given a hard time by bully Jade.
What did Jennifer Metcalfe do next?
Before her appearance in Emmerdale, when she was still a teenager, Jen had roles in Where The Heart Is (alongside current Emmerdale star Lesley Dunlop) and she played another bully in At Home With The Braithewaites.
Joining Hollyoaks
In 2006 Jennifer joined Hollyoaks as Mercedes McQueen.
She originally auditioned to play Clare Devine, but ended up landing the role that’s made her a soap icon.
In her own words: “Mercedes McQueen, bitch!”
The sassiest, gobbiest, most bolshy member of the McQueen family – and that’s with some pretty stiff opposition! – Mercedes arrived in Hollyoaks in 2006.
What are Mercedes McQueen’s highlights?
Where to begin?!
Mercy has been married four times – to Russ Owen, Malachy Fisher, Dr Browning (still the best soap wedding, ever) and Sylver McQueen. She’s been engaged once, to Riley Costello, though she was sleeping with his dad Carl at the time. For a while she thought Carl was the father of her son, Bobby.
She also had a stillborn baby with her longterm partner Joe Costello.
Mercedes was also involved in the Gloved Hand killer storyline, she stalked Mitzeee Minniver, and was the centre of her own whodunnit when she was shot – with her attacker eventually revealed to be Grace Black, with a bit of help from James Nightingale.
And she was also at the centre of the Breda McQueen killer storyline.
Oh, and she faked her own death for a while, too.
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