Sammy Winward's intense storyline

Sammy Winward says her current 'Emmerdale' storyline is her most intense yet.

The 25-year-old actress - who has seen her character Katie Sugden suffer a miscarriage and carry a surrogate baby for a warring couple - claims her forthcoming scenes where she is taken hostage by evil policeman Nick Henshall (Michael McKeel) have been some of the most difficult to date.

Sammy said: "The siege has been the most intense thing I've ever done.

"There's been a lot of crying and screaming. I was bruised from head to toe. Katie always picks the wrong guy. Henshall seemed a perfect fella. It's a shame he's a psycho."

The shock plot sees Katie trying desperately to escape the twisted policeman after learning he was behind the fire which killed Viv Hope (Deena Payne) and Terry Woods (Billy Hartman), with neighbours eventually contacting police in a desperate bid to save her.

Her ex-husband Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) - who Nick has been trying to pin the blame on for the arson attack - tries frantically to intervene but is held back by officers, leaving viewers fearing for the fate of the blonde beauty.