Emmerdale’s Jurell Carter reveals his ‘sadness’ after soap legend Jeff Hordley’s career advice and his exit

Former Emmerdale star Jurell Carter is set to take to the stage in Leeds – a city which has become an adopted home for the actor.

Millions will know Jurell Carter, 33, as Nate Robinson in Emmerdale. The character first appeared in the show back in 2019 with him seemingly leaving last year – although devotees know Nate was actually killed off with the plot currently playing out on our screens.

Since acting star Jurell, orginally from the Midlands, bid farewell to cast, crew and fans he’s been treading the boards in the very well received James Graham adaptation of Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from The Blackstuff – touring our major cities. Previously a successful TV series, the National Theatre production follows the challenges a group of men faced in working class Liverpool in the 1980s.

Ahead of Boys from The Blackstuff’s run at Leeds Grand Theatre in May we caught up with Jurell who plays Loggo in the play. The acting talent opening up his theatre debut, life after Emmerdale, his memories from the soap and his character briefly ‘returning from the dead’ in recent scenes.

Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from The Blackstuff will be at Leeds Grand Theatre from Tuesday, May 13 until Saturday, May 17. You can find out more and buy tickets here.

Thank you for chatting to us, Jurell. How have you found the tour?

“It has been amazing. This is my theatrical debut and even just saying that sounds surreal. I’ve been really enjoying it. It has been tough because obviously the schedule is quite anti-social and everyone is in bed (when the shows finish). In terms of the tour and the play, the reactions of the audience members have been so good. Just taking it on tour and telling the story – it has been amazing.”

What was it that drew you to the production and your role of Loggo?

“Liverpool has a special place in my heart as I used to live there as I went to drama school there. I love the city and I love the people. That resonated with me.

“Then when I read the script, it is so relevant to today’s society with the cost of living crisis. How relevant it was and how powerful the play is, I thought I’d love to be a part of that. So, it just drew me to it as soon as I saw it.

“I was excited to audition for it. I didn’t have any expectations for it, in terms of I’m definitely going to land it. But I just thought, ‘let me do my part, smash the tape (for the audition) and leave it there’. As an actor, you just have to do your best and then leave it there. Whether it is in the room or on a tape then try and forget about it. When I heard back that I got a recall, I was thrilled about that. The recall went really well and I left it all in the room (for the audition). So, when I got the call to say I’d got, I was over-the-moon and happy.”

The response from reviewers and critics appears to be overwhelmingly positive. That must be a wonderful feeling?

“I’ve spoken to the cast before. Sometimes, it is best not to read the reviews, just in case you see something you don’t like or it’s negative, but hearing that the reviews are nice is always a thing where we feel we’ve done our job and hopefully the audience love it. If certain audience members don’t love it, it is a thing for me, I’d like to know why – in a constructive way.

“Because I feel that every kind of feedback is useful – negative or positive. But the fact that I’m hearing there’s a lot of positive reviews is testament to how hard everyone is working and just how amazing the script is. Of course, we bring it to life but it has to be on the page. Alan Bleasdale and James Graham have done amazing with it.”

As you mention, there’s a lot of pedigree attached. That must have offered a lot of reassurance when you joined?

“Even just how amazing the set looks – that was created by Amy Cook. When you come to the show and see how amazing the set and design looks, everything pieces together from the cast and crew. We all work together. I think it is a powerhouse of a show. When the audience sees it, they’ll know and see that for themselves.”

A key message appears to be that the themes are still prevalent in our society?

“I think that’s the sad thing. This was over 40-years-ago now and it is still relevant today. It is a sad thing, it is a story that we are telling but when audience members come in, even if they are young, they will still resonate with it because it is so relevant. We are dealing with a government (now) that’s turning its backs on a lot of people.

“Back then, that was obviously in Margaret Thatcher’s era, and obviously a city of Liverpool which was forgotten by Margaret Thatcher, even if the audience are not from that time, like myself included, you’ll resonate with it. A lot of people are dealing with what these characters are dealing with.”

Given your connection to Leeds, you must be hugely looking forward to performing the play at the city’s Grand Theatre?

“I love Leeds. I joined Emmerdale in 2019 and I moved up at that same Leeds. I still live in Leeds and it is a special place – I love it. I think as well what we’ve found is that this play is resonating a lot with working class places. It did really well in Glasgow, obviously Liverpool, Birmingham and Leeds is another working class city where I think it will do really well.

“On a personal aspect, as I’ve lived here over five years now and I have a lot of friends here from the show (Emmerdale), it is special to bring the show here.”

How have you found the transition from screen to stage?

“I remember talking to Jeff (Hordley), who plays Cain, obviously we are quite close (with Jurell playing his on-screen son). He’s someone I’ll always have a special place for as he’s a really nice guy.

“I remember talking (to him) about theatre being a beast as it is non-stop and there’s no hiding. There’s no ‘can we go again on that’ or ‘can we go back again’ – there’s none of that. He said ‘I think you are ready for it’. So, for me, it is a challenge that I want to take in my stride. It is very different as it is live, there’s no hiding and anything can happen.

“Although, I think that’s what the beauty of theatre is. It is that live buzz. We create a live buzz but we get so much back from the audience. It is almost like a transaction between the audience and the cast. Just having that buzz, you can’t beat it.

“As much as I love (TV) set it is just a different feeling with theatre and it is something that I’m glad I’m doing. Even as an actor going forward, I feel like I’m going to be taking a lot from it.”

You’ve said previously that you felt it was the right time to leave Emmerdale. Do you feel the same a few months down the line?

“100 per cent. I’ve said it before in interviews but I feel like you always know (if it is the right time to leave) whether it is gut feeling or something in your spirit telling you that it is time for the next chapter.

“I’ve said it before but, obviously, it would be easier (to leave) if I hated Emmerdale but I love it. I still love it, I miss it but I just know that it was the right thing for me to do. I don’t regret it but at the same time, of course, I’m sad that I left but I knew it was the right thing for me in order to carry on my career – to try something new and do something different.”

It felt like you had a strong bond with your Emmerdale co-stars?

“I feel like you hear it all the time, you hear cast interviews, which say ‘it is such a nice place to work’ but when you don’t know you might think it is just lip-service. But when you actually come on set, even speaking to Mark Womack (who played DI Mark Malone in Emmerdale) who is on the show (Boys from The Blackstuff) as well, who is an amazing guy, he said it is one of the best jobs he’s worked on – for the people.

“It is testament to how amazing everyone is. As soon as you walk through them doors, you are just welcomed with open arms. There’s nothing better as a new actor, I was quite new to acting and I didn’t have much experience, as soon as I walked in I was just made to feel at home. It is something that I’ll never forget.

“Let’s say in the future, if I’m on a big show, as soon as someone new walks in I’m going to welcome them with open arms as I know how much it means and how nice it is to receive that.”

“How I see Boys from The Blackstuff now, to how I started from my first show, I was almost like a deer in the headlights. I was talking to myself saying ‘what am I doing?’ and ‘am I really putting myself through this?’. In my first show, I was so nervous and it just reminds me of when I joined Emmerdale. I remember talking to Nat (J Robb), who plays Moira (in Emmerdale), I told her on one of my first days that I was so nervous. And she just said ‘listen Jurell, you have nothing to be nervous about’ and it is just that same feeling.

“It is almost like a roller coaster, once you get on it, you are really enjoying it. I was so scared but then you really enjoy it. You are kind of on it then for the ride.”

You’ve been very busy on-stage but how has it been with your character being involved in a major ongoing story with Nate, briefly, ‘returning from the dead’ recently?

“That is weird. I think what makes it easier is the theatre schedule is so anti-social when Emmerdale is on, I’m obviously on a show. It is weird when fans talk about my character (Nate) and ask what’s happening – that is quite weird.

“It is a nice weird. It is nice that I’m still remembered on the show but it is nice that I’m doing something new now. It is a nice feeling.”

Do you think you’ll have a reunion with some of the Emmerdale cast and crew during the play’s run in Leeds?

“As there’s such a big cast on Emmerdale hopefully we are all going to organise a specific day where we go for a nice meal after or before (a show in Leeds) which will be really nice. Hopefully, the cast schedules can align with that to make something.”

Some people might not know you were an aspiring footballer in your youth and your love of the game. As a Birmingham City supporter, how was it to voiceover former Blues star Jude Bellingham’s promotional video after he joined Real Madrid?

“This might sound cliched or cheesy but football was my first love in that sense. I love football so much, I used to eat and sleep football. I played from the early hours, before school, during school and after school – I loved it so much.

“It got to a stage where I realised it wasn’t going to happen (a career as a footballer). I always loved acting as well but that’s when I took it serious. If I ever get the chance to combine the two, if I ever got the chance to be in a football series, I’d love that so much.

“Getting to voiceover Jude Bellingham, who comes from the team I love and support Birmingham City, that was nice to do. Combining the two, it felt like doing something special.

“If I ever get to combine the two (acting and football) then I’m a happy man.”

Could you have a word with James Graham who worked on play Dear England that follows Gareth Southgate’s tenure as the men’s national team’s manager?

“We’ve been at The Lowry (in Salford) and I’ve seen that on the boards which I’d love to see.”

You must have loved this season as a Birmingham City supporter following the club’s promotion from League 1 back to the Championship?

“I’m buzzing. I know I’ve mentioned the schedule but obviously with this schedule I don’t get to go and watch it much with the matinees on Saturdays and then the evening shows. I’m still following closely and the fact we got promoted I’m buzzing about.

“We are going to be in the Championship. Leicester, my hometown team, who are my second team have just got relegated so it’ll be a nice game to go watch Leicester v Birmingham.”

The Emmerdale cast always seem heavily involved in football – that must have been a fun experience?

“That’s one thing that I wish I got involved in more – the charity matches with football. There’s a lot of football fans at the show and a lot of good footballers on the show. Like I mentioned earlier, it is a family environment so when it comes to football banter everyone gets involved.”

“I was speaking to my agent recently and things are coming about in terms of castings. For me, my focus is on Boys from The Blackstuff as that’s my full-time job right now.

“I don’t want to look too far ahead but, I’ve mentioned it before in an interview recently, I just want to do things that I’m really passionate about – just like this show. I love how it is commentating about how today’s society is with the poor and unemployed.

“I just want to keep doing things that I’m passionate about. I don’t want to look too far ahead but if there’s something that comes along which I’m really passionate about I’d love to be involved. It could be TV, theatre or film. I just want to be working and passionate about it.”

It must be fulfilling to have the varied experience of TV and theatre?

“When I left Emmerdale, I didn’t have a clue what was coming next. I try and keep a positive mindset. Now that I’ve done theatre I’m so happy that I have that on my CV especially a show like this – it is such a powerhouse of a show.

“Having it on my CV shows that I’ve done different things and, for me personally, it it building my confidence and me as an actor in a different way – it is stretching a different muscle. Even that, I’m happy about.”

What’s been the biggest difference?

“The biggest transition is just letting go. Obviously on TV you have that thinking ‘of we can go again’ If you mess up or ‘we can hold that bit there’, ‘we can go again’ or ‘we’ll get it on the wider shot or the close up’ – there’s always that safety blanket.

“As much as it is amazing to be on-set (filming), and I love it, we’ve got that safety net of ‘we can go again’ if we need to. Whereas, live theatre is a different beast. It teaches you to trust yourself more and just let go.

“I’ve been guilty of it even on the show (Emmerdale) sometimes of being in my head and overthinking. I know it comes from wanting to do well but I kind of feel it is teaching me more to trust myself, as I know the lines back to front, and I can let go and have fun with it.

“A famous actor said something along the lines of theatre being a live and breathing thing where no night is the same. And, I find that transition from TV to theatre that no night is the same. It is having that confidence to let it breathe.”

A lot of that must be based on the reaction of each respective audience?

“There’s certain moments that get massive laughs and then other venues it hasn’t got a big laugh. Me as an actor, that’s new to the stage, in that sense there’s been occasions of ‘oh, that’s different’ but not to overthink it because I think you can get in your head and go ‘maybe I didn’t say it as funny this time’. If you get into that cycle it is not the healthiest.

“What I have learned so far is to take as it comes. If you don’t get a laugh at certain points it doesn’t mean they aren’t enjoying it but they are reacting differently. I try not to overthink it but I think different audiences give different feelings. It has been amazing seeing how different audiences see things.”

And finally, what’s your message ahead of the Leeds dates?

“I think the message to the Leeds fans is this show is a powerful show – this isn’t me giving lip-service. It is a powerful show, thought-provoking and it is dramatic. It is also heartwarming where there’s some beautiful moments where this community that don’t have much at the same time have that unity.

“They are still looking out for each other and they still care for each other. They aren’t turning their backs on each other, they are showing that supportive love and they have got that community feel. I feel sometimes in today’s society we have lost that but I feel like this show brings it back.

“Regardless of what the characters are facing they still find moments of lightness and moments of comedy. There’s some laugh out loud moments. Characters finding that, when they are dealing with all these things, is beautiful.

“As an audience member coming to the show, I promise, you won’t regret it. You’ll love it and I feel it is a show which will make you think. It is a thought-provoking place but also it will warm your heart.”