By , Soaps Editor © PA Images / Ian West/PA Wire has revealed that she would be interested in returning to Emmerdale at some point in the future. Earlier in the summer, before starting work on a stage version of classic sitcom Birds of a Feather in 2012. The star's character Hazel Rhodes is currently at the centre of Emmerdale's highest-profile plot after helping her son Jackson Walsh to die in an assisted suicide storyline. Jackson's boyfriend Aaron Livesy (), who played the crucial role in his death, will face a murder trial in next week's episodes. Speaking about her Emmerdale future in an interview with TV Times, Quirke explained: "Aaron and Hazel will always have this incredible bond, and hopefully that's something the writers will explore after I've left - I'm going at Christmas. "I've been away from my own children while I've been in Leeds and Danny has been my lovely surrogate son. He's been a joy to be around. We'll be friends for life." "I've had such a fantastic time at Emmerdale," she continued. "I couldn't have done this when my children were younger because I liked to be at home with them. Now they're grown-up, I was able to be in Leeds during the week and although I was a bit homesick, people like Danny made me feel like part of the team from day one." She added: "They've very kindly left the door open for me. I'd love to come back. I love it at Emmerdale and I will be sad to go. There will be a lot of tears." Aaron's Emmerdale trial plays out on screen all next week.