James Thornton's 'soap return'

Emmerdale star James Thornton has already made his soap comeback just two months after his character John Barton was killed off.

The 36-year-old actor has revealed he is voicing the trailer for 2012 British Soap Awards, to be held in London later this month and shown on ITV1 in May.

James tweeted: "Just voiced the trailer for The British Soap Awards. Hope that means I am going to win!"

He also posted a picture on Twitter of his script inside the official Soap Awards studio, with the lit up titles on the stage.

James is up for two awards, Best Exit and Spectacular Scene of the Year for John and Moira's car accident.

His final scene was a dramatic crash. The farmer and his wife, played by Natalie J Robb had been experiencing marriage problems and had both been unfaithful, but they had just rekindled their relationship when they had a car accident, which killed John.

James - who had asked to leave the soap so he could spend more time with his Gavin and Stacey star wife Joanna Page at home in London - was even injured in the crash as he insisted on doing his own stunts.

He previously revealed: "I love stunt driving so I was in my element.

"They had a stunt driver on standby but I wanted to do it myself to make it more realistic. I ended up with bruises all over my shoulders from being thrown against the sides of the car."

Emmerdale is up for 11 awards in total, including Best Soap.