Patsy opts to stay

Emmerdale bosses are popping their corks today after securing the future of sexpot actor Patsy Kensit on the hit soap.

14:22 30 August 2005

Emmerdale bosses are popping their corks today after securing the future of sexpot actor Patsy Kensit on the hit soap.

Patsy, who plays Sadie King, has almost single-handedly helped to boost the show's rating figures but speculation had arisen that she could be on the verge of leaving.

She previously spoke of her ambition to develop her career and had said that she was excited by having "lots of projects I can do when I leave".

Friends of the star also claimed that she was growing tired of having to regularly commute between the set in Leeds and her home in London.

However, the Sun reports today that Kensit, 37, has agreed to commit her future to ITV's second most popular soap.

"Patsy has been a tremendous asset. She and the producers feel there is loads more mischief for Sadie to get up to," an insider told the tabloid.

She will get paid an annual salary of 150,000, according to reports, a sum that "befits one of the stars of one of the biggest soaps on TV", the insider added.

"There have been silly rumours about money and the cast were getting a bit aggravated. Reports that she would get 250,000 are wide of the mark."