Emmerdale fans only just realising huge singer appeared on soap before worldwide fame

Emmerdale viewers were left utterly flabbergasted upon discovering that a chart-topping artist had once graced the show with their presence.

It's widely acknowledged that British soaps, Emmerdale included, have often been the springboard for numerous celebrities who've subsequently achieved colossal success.

This list features stars like Ben Hardy from EastEnders and Nathalie Emmanuel, who transitioned from Hollyoaks to Game of Thrones fame.

Yet, there's one particular superstar whose early days in the Yorkshire Dales flew under the radar for many fans, and they certainly look quite different now.

In 2015, none other than Yungblud popped up on the iconic ITV soap portraying Matt. The artist, real name Dominic Richard Harrison, hails from Doncaster and at 27 years old has already made waves in the music industry, reports the Daily Star.

His initial EP dropped in 2018, and his latest album, Idols, soared to the top spot in the UK charts. He even recently participated in a reading at the funeral of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne.

The character was introduced as a potential romantic interest for Belle Dingle (played by Eden Taylor-Draper), and Yungblud notably shared screen time with soap veteran Steve Halliwell, aka Zak Dingle.

Fans have been expressing their astonishment over Yungblud's stint on the soap. A TikTok clip of his appearance has gone viral, with viewers voicing their amazement in the comments.

"HOW DID I NOT NOTICE HIM! ! !" exclaimed one user. Another remarked: "@yungblud how didn't I notice you in Emmerdale." Then a third added: "and he got to be in a scene with Zak Dingle."

In addition to his stint on Emmerdale, Yungblud landed a part in the 2016 Disney Channel series, The Lodge, portraying a musician named Oz.

Yet, he departed from the show after just one series. In a later interview with The Guardian, he explained that his decision was driven by a desire to concentrate on his music career.

Reflecting on his departure, he told The Guardian: "They had me for three seasons, but I left after one. They knew I was a punk," he revealed.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm