Last updated 04:38, Wednesday, 05 March 2008

Roxanne at the wedding in Carlisle

AS HER Emmerdale character prepares to tie the knot with fiance Andy this week, Carlisle soap star Roxanne Pallett has been watching her friends do it for real.

The 24-year-old actress, who plays Jo Stiles in the ITV show, was back in her home city at the weekend to witness two of her friends, Tracey Bulman and Marc Sharkey, get hitched.

The couple, of Trafalgar Street, were married in glorious sunshine at St James’ Church, Denton Holme, at 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

Among the guests was Roxanne, who arrived wearing a black knee-length shift dress, beige high heels and handbag, and film star sunglasses.

But this week Roxanne – or at least her character Jo – will be swapping her chic, understated outfit for a traditional white wedding gown.

However, unlike the ceremony on Saturday, the soap wedding will be anything but glamorous – with poor Jo having to marry Andy Sugden in a bleak prison room.

The storyline is Roxanne’s most challenging to date, full of twists and turns.

This includes an encounter with policeman Ross on Jo’s hen night and another man, Charlie, forcing himself on her after the ceremony. The wedding episode will be shown tomorrow on ITV1 at 7pm.

The Carlisle-born star, who has just been awarded a new 12-month contract by Emmerdale bosses, is looking forward to a busy year.

She said fans can expect some dramatic storylines as recent events slowly catch up with character Jo.

Although she is growing used to attending star-studded events, Roxanne regularly returns to Carlisle.

Standing outside the church on Saturday, the actress chatted to family and friends. She went inside just before bride Tracey pulled up in a white vintage car, dressed in a stunning ivory gown and veil.

Roxanne later attended the reception at Leonardo’s bar.