Emmerdale star Chris Bisson has promised a huge new storyline for his character Jai Sharma, which kicks off in the unmissable Corriedale crossover episode next month. Jai is among the 41 characters from both soaps who’ll be featuring in the special hour-long event in the New Year.

Show bosses are promising danger, death and destruction as a multi-vehicle road collision brings together characters from both Emmerdale and Coronation Street for the first time ever. But for Jai, it’s all about what happens after the crash…

Chris’s inclusion in the cast list may come as a surprise to fans, as he previously played Vikram Desai in Coronation Street between 1999 and 2002. He’s been playing Jai on Emmerdale since 2009.

Speaking exclusively to us at the red carpet premiere of Corriedale, Chris shared some intriguing teasers over Jai’s role in proceedings.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Related: Emmerdale’s Danny Miller accidentally gives away Aaron’s future – ahead of explosive Corriedale special

“I’m not in a huge amount of Corriedale, compared to what some of the people have been involved in,” Chris explained. “But all I can say is that it kicks off something big!

“So it’s a small part, but something much bigger comes from it. It’s a nice little crossover. I couldn’t cross with a lot of the Coronation Street cast because I look too similar to a character they had called Vikram Desai and he’s apparently in India!”

He continued: “Jai’s not in too much danger in this episode, but you’ll see a reveal at the end and he may be in a bit of peril going forward…”

Related: 15 huge Emmerdale spoilers for next week (22 to 26 December)

Jai’s most recent storyline saw him strike up a surprising romantic chemistry with Kerry Wyatt, although they found it difficult to pursue for long since they’re working together at Caleb Miligan’s depot.

The show has also been exploring tensions between Jai and Caleb over the past year or so, with the two businessmen often desperate to outsmart each other.

“I have no idea if Jai and Caleb will ever be friends,” Chris admitted. “I doubt it very much. He’s already done me over once, then I got my money back, but he doesn’t like the fact that I’ve got my money back! I think that’s going to be an ongoing rivalry.”

Corriedale will air on Monday 5 January at 8pm on ITV1 and will stream o