Emmerdale’s Pasha Bocarie worked up a sweat to get in shape for action scene

EMMERDALE star Pasha Bocarie has told of his TWO-MONTH fitness blitz to get in shape for his biggest-ever screen drama.

His character Rakesh sets fire to the mill in a gripping one-hour episode this week.

And Pasha says he was determined to play the action man to the hilt.

“I really wanted to push things and didn’t want stunt doubles,” Pasha told iN10 from the soap’s Leeds studio.

“I didn’t want to hold back. I got myself in good shape over a couple of months knowing this was coming up.

“I was working with a personal trainer and eating and sleeping right. It was especially important as we were filming as normal during the whole period.

“I wanted to do whatever I could to do the action justice. You have to be focused because the thing moves so quickly you have to be on your game.

“If you’re not, you look like the idiot and I didn’t want that.

“This was a good thing to use as motivation, fitness-wise, but to be fair all the boys and girls are pretty much gym buffs so I’m just trying to keep up with them really.”

The drama unfolds as Rakesh’s money worries mount because of the mill and he resorts to desperate measures.

“He feels responsible for ruining his son’s life and that this is his last chance to help him,” explains Pasha.

“But then he finds the mill, which he’s put all of his money in, is a write-off because of dry rot. He gets the idea for the fire to claim the insurance money as he doesn’t see anywhere else to go.

“There’s a lot of drama to come with other characters caught up in it.”

In Tuesday’s extended episode, Nicola is trapped in the blaze and even when she’s rescued she’s not out of danger.

Paramedics, fire crews, stunt coordinators and health & safety experts were on hand for the filming.

It’s just the latest action-fest to hit Emmerdale, which must surely be a more dangerous place to live than even the murder-strewn village of Midsomer. Explosions and blazes aplenty have ripped through the village, making it the most stunt-packed of all the soaps.

“Yes, they have had a lot of action sequences,” admits Pasha. “They do them really well. They’ve been pushing boundaries and doing things you’d normally find in films.

“It’s edgy and exciting and I was really pleased to be a part of this one.”

The action sequences have helped make Emmerdale a real winner with viewers. And that winning streak continued in the most special fashion at the British Soap Awards when the show triumphed for the first time as Best Soap.

Previously the accolade had pretty much been shared between Coronation Street and EastEnders.

Pasha admits it made for a night to remember.

“It was just crazy. Even though we felt we’d done really well this year you still don’t really expect to hear your name called out.

“It was one of the best things ever and really well deserved as it had been a long time coming.

“Even though we hadn’t won before we’d never felt we weren’t as good as anyone else. But this was a nice vindication of what we do.

“The following day, though, it was back to business, although there was definitely a wee bit of a sore head.”

Pre-Emmerdale, Pasha cropped up in TV dramas such as Spooks and Silent Witness but his very first role was in Glasgow-shot Ae Fond Kiss.

“It was real honour working with a legend like director) Ken Loach,” adds Pasha. “I loved Glasgow, although I didn’t really know anybody there.

“When I wasn’t working I’d try to get around and see as much of the city as I could. Or I’d jump on the train through to Edinburgh and do some sightseeing there.

“The whole thing was a great experience and something I’ll never forget.”

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