ITV Emmerdale stars’ salaries ‘revealed’ – and the top earner is not who you’d expect
Emmerdale has been a part of the nation's TV schedules for decades and has had some iconic characters - but it turns out that one member of the cast is the highest paid star
The top earner on Emmerdale has reportedly been ‘unveiled’.
Since its first episode aired in 1972, the ITV soap has become a television mainstay, captivating audiences with its gripping narratives and unexpected plot twists.
Over the years, viewers have been introduced to a host of memorable characters in the famous Yorkshire village, from stalwarts like Kim Tate (Claire King) and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), to newer faces such as Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).
Interestingly, there’s one cast member who is said to be earning a pretty penny for their time on the show – and it might not be who you’d expect.
According to The Mirror, the pay structure across Emmerdale, Coronation Street and EastEnders is consistent, with actors receiving a per-episode fee that can vary between £400 and £2,000. This is coupled with a guaranteed number of episodes annually and a repeat fee, reports Leicestershire Live.
While it remains unclear who the highest-paid star on Emmerdale is, speculation over the years has given us some insight into the potential earnings of our favourite cast members.
Claire King, who has been playing the iconic Kim Tate since 1989 (with a hiatus after her first decade), is reported to be the soap’s highest earner ever, placing her among the most well-paid actresses in soap history. She made a triumphant return to Emmerdale in 2018.
She’s also graced the Strictly Come Dancing dance floor, partnering with Brendan Cole in 2006, and made an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, although she had to exit the Channel 4 reality show early due to medical reasons. Her fee is rumoured to be a staggering £230,000.
Claire topping the list might surprise those who anticipated Chris Chittell – Emmerdale’s longest-serving actor playing Eric Pollard – to hold that position. It’s been suggested that Chris receives a substantial annual salary of £200,000 for his portrayal of Eric, a character he’s embodied since 1986.
Reported salaries of other cast members include Emma Atkins, who has played Charity Dingle since 2000, and is believed to earn a handsome £200,000 annually from her role in the popular soap.
Jeff Hordley, known for his role as Emmerdale’s resident hard man Cain Dingle, is said to take home the same amount as Emma: a commendable yearly salary of £200,000.
![EMMERDALE
STRICT EMBARGO -TV Listings Magazines Tuesday 20 March 2012, Newspapers and other media including ANY websites Saturday 24 March 2012
Emmerdale - 6198
Thursday 29 March 2012 at 7pm
All the effort is too much for Zak Dingle [STEVE HALLIWELL] when he heads to SethIs hide and breaks down sobbing. Picture contact: david.crook@itv.com on 0161 952 6214 Photographer - Joseph Scanlon
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As for Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Dingle, having featured in over 1,400 episodes of the show, he would have accumulated a considerable salary over his 13-year tenure, based on the rate of £400 to £2,000 per episode.
Meanwhile, Steve Halliwell, who portrayed Zak Dingle and sadly passed away at 77 in 2023, likely had an annual salary around £200,000. He was part of Emmerdale from 1994 until his d.e.a.t.h, a total of 29 years.
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm