Former Emmerdale actress Kelli Hollis has revealed her father is a convicted drug lord who was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Kelli, who played Ali Spencer on the ITV soap from 2011-2015, has never publicly discussed her father's criminal past until now, despite it haunting her thoughts for years and attempts by some social media users to expose her.

Now ready to share her private ordeal, she spoke exclusively to the Manchester Evening News to tell her story once and for all, vowing to move on with her life. At the start of an incredibly candid conversation, 49-year-old Kelli, who recently moved to Thailand for a significant career shift, was her usual upbeat self.

However, she quickly made it clear just how nervous she was about revealing her secret. That being said, it's important to stress that she felt no shame about her father's actions. Her father, Gwynne Thomas Hollis, is no longer part of her life, but this wasn't always the case.

"My dad was my world," Kelli confessed. "I will be honest, we haven't spoken in almost ten years, but that is other normal family stuff. That is not because he has gone to prison. I absolutely adored my dad... massively. He used to joke and say I was the son he always wanted as I'm the only girl and the oldest and I have his personality and confidence. I loved him with all my heart. He is my dad at the end of the day."

Kelli's parents separated when she was three years old, yet her father, Gwynne, a professional criminal, remained a consistent presence throughout her childhood.

From a tender age, she started to grasp that her dad was unlike others and mixed up in unlawful ventures, particularly narcotics trafficking.

"I have always known all my life what he does," revealed Kelli, who previously wept openly in the courtroom when her father received a prison sentence during his earlier years.

"But where I am from, this isn't me saying it is OK because it is not, but I am from Beeston in Leeds. Everyone can relate to Shameless and the lifestyle and the council estate thing. So I suppose you just get on with it.

"But my dad, I will be honest, he was always supportive when I got an opportunity to be an actor because it came about very suddenly and he did nothing but encourage me to stay away from the life he has led. So I will always be grateful for that."

When Kelli progressed through life, she secured employment at her neighbourhood boozer, a venue where everybody was familiar with everyone else's affairs, meaning her father's dodgy operations were scarcely concealed.

She continued: "I had suspicions as a teenager, just because of his persona and the way people were around him, that kind of thing. And then as I grew up, it was just what it was."

Chuckling, she went on: "I didn't think 'oh s**t my dad is a drug dealer', do you know what I mean? It wasn't like that. You just grow up and you only know what you know."

However, Kelli fell into acting completely by chance, securing major parts including Yvonne Karib in Shameless and Ali Spencer in Emmerdale.

Her father also tried his hand at acting, and the pair actually appeared together on screen in productions like Tina Goes Shopping, a drama which earned a Bafta nomination.

She remembered: "My dad got some opportunities and he loved it and he was really good. We had a conversation and he said, 'I can't be on the back of your coattails and I can't risk your career because of what I am doing.'".

As Kelli's stardom increased, she remained constantly conscious that her dad's illegal dealings might potentially impact her career.

This worry materialised in June 2023 when Gwynne was found guilty of plotting to supply class A drugs.

He participated in an extensive narcotics manufacturing and supply operation throughout York and its surrounding areas.

Nevertheless, he failed to appear in court, forcing police to eventually hunt him down. At 66 years old, he received a 17-year prison sentence.

Looking back on events, Kelli, who is now a mother, explained: "We sort of knew it was coming. There had been a lot of stuff going on the previous years leading up to this. From my knowledge, they were trying to build a case for quite a few years.

"It wasn't unexpected but what was unexpected was that he ran off and he didn't go to court. The sad thing is that if he had just done it, he probably would have got less because they gave him more because he bolted."