“We want to see Charity & Mack up to no good again!”
EMMERDALE | ITV1 WEDNESDAY
EMMERDALE’S EMMA ATKINS AND LAWRENCE ROBB GIVE US THE LOWDOWN ON WHETHER CHARITY AND MACKENZIE’S MARRIAGE CAN MAKE IT…
We’ve had a rollercoaster of stories,” laughs Emma Atkins, who plays landlady Charity Dingle and one half of soapland’s most tortured couples. “I feel very lucky and blessed. They’ve been quite serious and dramatic and I’ve loved that.”
As Emma and co-star Lawrence Robb, aka Mackenzie, sit down with us to tease the grave aftermath of Charity stabbing her husband, the actors themselves are full of laughter as they look back on the past year of storylines. As their characters reach a huge moment of realisation about the state of their relationship, Emma and Lawrence want nothing more than for Mack and Charity to go the distance – and have more fun along the way!
However, with Charity’s PTSD isolating her from the family, and Mack’s guilt making him try too hard, will the couple ever be able to repair their broken marriage or is it too late? Will they realise their love is strong enough to withstand even the toughest times? The Emmerdale stars reveal the outcome they’re hoping for…
Hi both! What was your reaction when you heard Charity would stab Mackenzie?
Emma At first I was worried about how feasible that would be, but I spoke to a psychologist. Charity is not herself and sleep deprivation causes alarming things to take place in one’s psyche.
Lawrence The producers love to pitch it to you as though you’re going to leave the show! So I thought, “I need to start looking for another job!” But it was just great, I was excited about lying in a hospital bed and flatlining at the end of an episode!
How do they deal with the situation afterwards?
Emma They go in opposite directions. Charity’s in total shock and she wants to be charged because she feels as if she’s not in control and she’s terrified, so she isolates herself.
Lawrence Mackenzie is trying to latch on and overcompensate, he feels Charity is getting more and more distant. He’s also got his own demons that I don’t think he’s quite over.
Does Mack feel guilty about Charity’s trauma?
Lawrence Yes, definitely. There’s a scene where he’s being interviewed by the police, in the hospital bed, and there are so many drugs in his system. He gets very emotional about being worried and concerned for Charity. He feels a huge amount of responsibility.A lot of it is his fault.
You’ve just filmed those scenes where Charity speaks to a therapist – what was that lik
