The longtime cop has been on the soap for over 15 years and has been involved in some big storylines

Emmerdale viewers believe they have identified a potential new love interest for PC Mike Swirling.

Andy Moore, who portrays the police officer, has been a part of the ITV soap since 2004, making him one of the longest-standing recurring characters. Over the years, he’s frequently been involved in handling the village’s various incidents.

Consequently, PC Swirling is a familiar face to many villagers, especially the Dingle family. Just this week, he found himself arresting Cain Dingle (played by Jeff Hordley).

Audiences will remember that Cain has been having a tough time and spiralling out of control since his wife Moira (Natalie J Robb) was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumour earlier this year. In a moment of weakness, Cain cheated on Moira with Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly) while Moira was undergoing surgery.

Overwhelmed with guilt, Cain decided to skip Moira’s hospital appointment for her post-surgery results on Tuesday (December 10). However, he soon regretted his decision, reports Leeds Live. In his rush to get back to the hospital to support Moira, he collided with Jai Sharma’s (Chris Bisson) car.

Later, PC Swirling stopped Cain – only for Cain to lash out at the officer and be taken away in handcuffs. At the police station, a desperate Cain pleaded with Swirling to let him contact Moira – and Swirling showed some compassion, eventually allowing him to use his mobile phone to call her.

While PC Swirling continues to feature in Emmerdale, speculation amongst fans suggests a potential romantic plotline with Kim Tate (played by Claire King). On an Emmerdale fan page on Facebook, a user speculated: “When is Swirling becoming a main character then?”.

Another fan proposed: “He should get with Kim! ” while a third person pondered: “She would eat him up, but I can see that.” A fourth enthusiast suggested: “He should be full-time as well, but definitely needs some romance.”

Beyond his appearances in the Dales, actor Andy Moore, who portrays PC Swirling, has enjoyed a notable career on television. His initial dive into soap operas began in 2005 with a short stint as a driver in two episodes of Coronation Street.

By 2010, Moore made his way back to the same series, this time portraying a photographer. However, Coronation Street isn’t the only show where viewers have experienced Moore’s craft; he has roles in other popular series, including The Bill, The Royal, and Fred and Marv.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm