Emmerdale’s Michael Parr wants National Television Awards prize for his late gran

Soap star Michael Parr has told how he’d love to triumph at this week’s National Television Awards for his late gran.

Michael has won a legion of fans as Emmerdale bad boy Ross Barton, leading to a prized Newcomer NTA nomination.

But he’s gutted that gran Sheila, who died at Christmas 2013, won’t be there to see his finest hour.

“She was my biggest fan and watched every single thing I did,” Michael told The Sunday Post. She was so kind and such a big influence.

“Gran would give me lifts to drama classes or come and watch a show and wait to take me home afterwards.

“She was my best mate and she did see me on screen in Emmerdale even if she didn’t see me up for awards.

“I was up for another award recently and I was only gutted not to win because my gran would have been the first one I’d have thanked. I’m sure she’d have been so proud of me.”

The awards, hosted by Dermot O’Leary, take place at London’s O2 Arena on Wednesday and screened live on ITV 1.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch is vying with Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire, Dame Maggie Smith from Downton Abbey and Sheridan Smith from Cilla.

Doctor Who, Cilla, Sherlock and Downton are up for best drama with Mrs Brown’s Boys the hot favourite for best comedy.

Michael, 28, joined the cast of the ITV soap just 18 months ago and it’s his highest profile role as a baddie after wrong ’un roles in Doctors, Hollyoaks and Casualty.

I think I’m pretty normal but there seems to be something about my face that makes people think I’m a bit of a weirdo,” laughs Michael.

“In one of my jobs I walked into the costume department and they said, ‘Oh, you’re the villain’. I hadn’t even put the costume on yet!”

You can cast your vote at nationaltvawards.com/vote.