CHARITY’S AWFUL BUT LOVE HER

Emma Atkins says her deliciously devious Emmerdale character will never stop scheming – or find true love with Cain

When Emma Atkins returned to her role as Charity Dingle in Emmerdale earlier this year after 12 months’ maternity leave following the birth of her first child, Albert, she was worried she’d forgotten how to play the scheming soap super-bitch.

‘I had that feeling of, “I’ve been away for a year, what if I suddenly can’t get this character”’ she admits, ‘and then everyone’s thinking, “She really hasn’t got it any more!”’ But Emma now concedes she needn’t have worried. ‘I know Charity so well it was like putting on a pair of socks; it came back quickly.’

If anything, the cheating, conniving Dingle is back with a vengeance. She roared back to our screens in March, having been sentenced to two years behind bars for an insurance scam, by immediately stealing a Ferrari. ‘ I got the script and thought, “As if!” But then I decided, “She probably would do that.” She has no reformed features whatsoever. She’s a complete opportunist and such a badass!’

Th is week Char ity, who’s become the new joint- owner of The Woolpack, will finally get her claws back into her old flame and cousin, Cain Dingle. She kisses him after Cain and his wife Moira row about her daughter Holly’s drug- taking. It promises to be the start of yet another fling between the pair, leading to Cain and Moira’s relationship hitting the rocks.

‘Charity’s lonely and that makes her act selfishly,’ Emma explains. ‘Even though there are problems between Moira and Cain, Charity can see Cain is still in love with Moira, so for selfish reasons Charity is ready to derail that relationship.’

Since Emma beat Corrie legend Suranne Jones to the role of Charity in 2002, her storylines have included affairs, three failed marriages, several dodgy get-rich- quick schemes, a secret abortion, and of course her on-off relationship with Cain.

But, says Emma, ‘There’s no longevity in Charity and Cain – it’s just a thrill. Some couples never know when to call it a day because it’s addictive, whereas in reality it’s too volatile. But Charity doesn’t care about that when she’s breaking up Cain and Moira. She’s awful; I can’t condone anything she does!’

Yet while not excusing her behaviour, Emma enjoys it when Charity is ‘at her worst’. She says, ‘I love playing her being mischievous because she’s so different to me and I feel challenged as an actress. Viewers also seem to love it when she’s naughty.’

Despite Emma’s nerves at returning from maternity leave, she’s loved being thrust back in at the deep end, even though balancing work and motherhood can be a struggle. ‘When you have lots of scripts to learn it can be tough; I just have to plan ahead,’ she says. ‘It’s the best job in the world so I find a way to make it work.

‘ I loved being at home with Albert but I missed my job. Motherhood has given me a feeling of what will be, will be. I was quite fearless anyway but I’ve got a sense of freedom now. I think maternity leave was a good thing to get my mojo back with the character.’

Perhaps that’s why Emma hopes to have another little one with businessman partner, Tom. ‘I’m 41; I think it’s the perfect age. The timing couldn’t be better. I feel young at heart.’