Actor Jonathan Wrather has said he is "thrilled" to be joining the cast of Emmerdale.
Best known for playing nasty Joe Carter in Coronation Street, Rada-trained Wrather has a string of television and theatre credits to his name.
He has appeared in Silent Witness, Holby City, Doctors and Casualty, to name a few.
On the stage, the Cheshire-born actor featured in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Starlight Express and a production of When Harry Met Sally, with Gaby Roslin as Sally to his Harry.
Talking about his role as Pierce Harris in ITV's rural soap, he said: "I am thrilled to be joining Emmerdale.
"It's a great opportunity to be offered the chance to create a new character in one of TV's most popular shows and I'm very excited to be working with such an outstanding cast and team."
Wrather's character is set to stir things up from the moment he is seen on screen in mid February.
Unknown to Pierce, his wife Tess (played by Nicola Stephenson) is having an affair with Emmerdale's long serving vet Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt).
When Paddy and Tess first met, she was open about her marital status. However, he never expected to come face to face with her husband.
But with Pierce on the scene, it can only be a matter of time before their clandestine secret is exposed.