Emmerdale actress Emma Atkins has said it is “just brilliant” to see her character Charity Dingle behind the bar in The Woolpack.
In Thursday’s episode, viewers will see Charity’s dramatic return to the village after a spell in prison for perverting the course of justice.
Jaws will drop even further when, much to the villagers’ surprise, Charity announces herself as the new joint owner of The Woolpack.
Charity’s entrance is typically dramatic – she arrives in a stolen Ferrari.
It isn’t long before she causes chaos for her ex Cain Dingle (played by Jeff Hordley) and his wife Moira (Natalie J. Robb).
Unfortunately for Cain, Charity’s new status as landlady doesn’t look as if it will provide her with some stability.
But fans have long been intrigued by bad girl Charity and her sizzling chemistry with Cain is just one reason to tune into ITV’s rural soap.
Talking about Charity, Emma said: “It is just brilliant to see her behind the bar. Something very different. She will be under the watchful eye of Chas (played by Lucy Pargeter), but both characters can give as good as they get so it will be a colourful dynamic.”
The 40-year-old actress has been on maternity leave after welcoming her first child with her businessman partner in 2015.
In a funny twist, Charity also welcomed a new baby in 2015 while behind bars. It is not the first time she has given birth in prison: in 2004, her son Noah was born while she was serving time for the murder of Chris Tate (Peter Amory).
Emma is raring to get her teeth stuck into her Emmerdale storylines, even if she is yet to fully master pulling a pint.
“My pint pulling can literally floor my workmates by being brilliant one minute and horrendous the next,” she admitted.
“It’s a continuity extravaganza as I’m learning the ropes from the props guys and Lucy. It’s a skill in itself having to say the lines, work the props and try and give a fluid performance without having an expression of dread wondering if the pint will have a good head of froth on it!”
Emma made her debut as the troubled Emmerdale resident in 2000. She left five years later before returning full-time in 2009.
“The bar is a bit like a stage for Charity where she can show off and deliver her explosive one liners to the locals,” Emma said.
“Her behaviour will no doubt fluctuate from good to bad to ugly, with a decent dose of naughtiness thrown in.”
