Emmerdale recast Asan N’jie’s character following knife threat sacking

He was fired after threatening to kill a fellow actor

Asan N'Jie

by Marianna Manson |
Updated on

The new actor to play Emmerdale’s Ellis Chapman has been announced, two months after Asan N’Jie was fired from the soap.

Original actor Asan was dismissed from his role with immediate effect after he was recorded threatening to knife Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas(Warren Fox) at the TV Choice awards in September.

Ellis Champan, Emmerdale
Ellis Chapman and Al Chapman in Emmerdale ©ITV

WATCH Emmerdale's Ryan Hawley reveals funny David Tennant story | TV Choice Awards 2019

His replacement is Aaron Anthony, who’s previously worked on Doctors and Sky series Delicious.

Ellis’ sudden departure from Emmerdale was explained by his half-brother, Billy Fletcher, who revealed he was travelling with his mum, Jessie, to Dubai, where he’d been offered a new job.

But sources say Ellis is set to return unannounced to the village to see to unfinished business with Billy and his absent dad, Al, who’s recently come back on the scene.

Of stepping into Ellis’ shoes, Aaron said in a statement, “Emmerdale is a cracking show with a brilliant cast that I'm over the moon to now be a part of.

CHECK OUT Everyone leaving and arriving in Emmerdale 2019

Gallery

Emmerdale Movers And Shakers 2019 SLIDER

Emmerdale arrivals departures1 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Lisa Dingle leaves

Lisa Dingle returned to Home Farm in May to break the heartbreaking news to daughter Belle that she was suffering from terminal heart condition, Amyloidosis.Of her departure, actress Jane Cox said, "Lisa is so close to my heart as she's been such a huge part of my life for the past more than 23 years."So I know I will shed more than a few tears when it comes to filming her final scenes."But I'm really looking forward to my return to the show to tell this story and to give the character of Lisa a deserving farewell. I will miss her."

Emmerdale arrivals departures2 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Mandy Dingle returns

After a whopping seventeen years, Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) returned to the village for the wedding of her ex-husband Paddy Kirk to her cousin Chas Dingle.Her return wasn't last and she left once more after the nuptials,

Emmerdale arrivals departures3 of 18
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Kim Tate returns

Kim Tate crashed back into the village after her stint in prison fuming with right hand man Graham Foster for lying to her about son Joe's whereabouts and determined to get Cain Dingle to help her do away with Joe for good. She was never going to be away for long, was she?

Emmerdale arrivals departures4 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Jamie Tate arrives

With Joe Tate's whereabouts still unconfirmed, Graham passed on the details of Kim's estranged son Jamie as a bargaining chip to stop her going after Joe herself. Last seen as a toddler, Jamie's apple seems to have fallen pretty far from the tree with a personality a million miles from Kim's.

Emmerdale arrivals departures5 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Bear Wolf arrives

Paddy Kirk tracks down his long lost dad, who turns out to be a semi professional wrestler who goes by the name of Bear Wolf.After following him to Belfast for an emotional reunion, Bear Wolf reveals he never wanted to lose Paddy and the pair of them slowly begin to rebuild their relationship. SOB.

Emmerdale arrivals departures6 of 18
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Megan Macey leaves

Gaynor Faye announced she would be leaving the soap in May."I know it's a risk but I need to push myself out of my comfort zone," she told OK! magazine."I've always been the type of person who doesn't want to stay playing the same character for too long. I've been on the show for over six years and have naturally reached a point where I'd like to do some other stuff."

Emmerdale arrivals departures7 of 18
CREDIT: Getty

Maya Stepney leaves

Maya Stepney actress Louisa Clein has quit the soap after her explosive grooming storyline which lead to her facing some horrible trolling online. "Louisa's had fans glued to their seats with her brilliant performance," a soap insider said. "They've been wondering what the future might hold for Maya and savouring the potential for her to continue to feature."

Emmerdale arrivals departures8 of 18
CREDIT: Getty

Chris Kamara cameo

Here's one you didn't see coming: Football pundit Chris Kamara will be making a cameo appearance in Emmerdale at the end of June."I watch Emmerdale with my wife and my son – in fact, my son is a massive Emmerdale fan so if I was coming down, they had to come too," he said."It was a great day and I loved it! I essentially got to play myself and not a character, but hopefully that'll be the next thing along the line."

Emmerdale arrivals departures9 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Robert Sugden leaves

Ryan Hawley, who's played Robert Sugden since 2014, is set to leave his role at the end of the year."[Ryan] has decided to take a break from the show for the foreseeable future and try other projects," an ITV source said."He will leave later this year, but fans can expect to see him on screen right up until the end of the year. He will be sorely missed."

Emmerdale arrivals departures10 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Jessie Dingle leaves

Sandra Marvin will quit her role as Jessie Dingle later on in the year, following the dramatic grooming storyline that saw Jessie suspended from her job as Head Teacher at Hotten High. Jessie will be the second character to leave Emmerdale because of the scandal, following in the footsteps of Maya Stepney (Louisa Clein).

Emmerdale arrivals departures11 of 18
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Danny arrives

A new teenage love interest for Sarah Sugden Jr, Danny, is set to join the village in coming weeks.He'll be played by Louis Healy - son of Denise Welch and Tim Healy, and younger brother of The 1975's lead singer Matt Healy.

Emmerdale arrivals departures12 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Derek arrives

Comedy legend Tommy Cannon will be joining the cast as they mysterious Derek, who's set of have a major impact on the village dynamic.81-year-old Tommy was one half of comedy duo Cannon and Ball for nine years and have appeared on a number of ITV reality series since.

Emmerdale arrivals departures13 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Pete Barton leaves

Pete Barton, played by Anthony Quinlan, left Emmerdale after a traumatic six years that saw him lose his entire family in freak accidents. "Anthony has loved his time on Emmerdale but he is really keen to try and make a name for himself away from just soaps, and is looking at auditions," said a source."He says he would be up for doing a reality show too, like the jungle or Strictly, but with a full-on filming schedule for Emmerdale that's quite tricky."

Emmerdale arrivals departures14 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Graham Foster leaves

Andrew Scarborough, who plays Graham Foster, was reported to have been filming his last scenes in November."Andrew's been a great addition to the cast and has been involved in some of Emmerdale's biggest storylines since he arrived in the village in 2017," a source told The Daily Star."So he was never going to leave in the back of a taxi. His exit will be huge and will kick start a drama filled and action packed year in the Dales."

Emmerdale arrivals departures15 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Ellis Chapman leaves

Relative newcomer Asan N'Jie was FIRED from the soap after getting into a drunk fight with fellow soap actor Jamie Lomas (Hollyoaks' Warren Fox) at a fancy awards ceremony in September.His sudden departure was explained by his half-brother Billy Fletcher who said he'd gone to join his mum Jessie in Dubai.

Emmerdale arrivals departures16 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Faith Dingle leaves

Sally Dexter, who plays Faith Dingle, announced she was leaving in October and teased her exit storyline, telling Metro, "There's a lot of fallout from the Moira, Cain, Nate debacle, I am probably going to be collateral. It's going to be an explosive October. I may have to leave for a little while."

Emmerdale arrivals departures17 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Bernice Blackstock leaves

Samantha Giles announced she was quitting her role as Bernice Blackstock in September after seven years. "After 7 fabulous years I am shortly to be hanging up Bernice's aprons and leaving the dales to pursue other creative projects," she wrote on Twitter."I will miss all the friends I've made on the show, but I'm very excited to be moving on to pastures new."

Emmerdale arrivals departures18 of 18
CREDIT: ITV

Frank Clayton leaves

Frank Clayton died in a fire whilst trying to rescue his daughter Tracy.Actor Michael Praed said, "Sadly, it's the demise of young Frank."I would just like to thank all you guys for your support and I hope you continue to love the show as much as I do and all the people in it."

Aaron Anthony
New Ellis Chapman actor, Aaron Anthony ©Sky

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“I know Ellis is a well loved character and I'm looking forward to continuing his journey and all that's in store for him.”

Fellow soap stars an onlookers were left horrified as events unfolded at the awards ceremony earlier this year, as Asan and Jamie nearly came to blows over a financial dispute involving a friend of Asan’s who Jamie had previously worked as agent for.

Following his dismissal, disgraced Asan said, "My behaviour at the TV Choice Awards was completely unacceptable.

"I sincerely apologise to everybody who has been affected especially Jamie Lomas, the whole Emmerdale team, our audience, ITV, my family, and the organisers of the TV Choice Awards.

"I am devastated, accept full responsibility for my actions and I am determined to learn from this."

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