DON’T LOSE FAITH, ERIC!

Pollard is convinced Faith is cheating in Emmerdale – can she convince him otherwise? We ask actress Sally Dexter

Eric Pollard’s relationship with Faith Dingle looks to be heading for the rocks this week in Emmerdale as he worries that she’s cheating on him with Bear Wolf.

Pollard sees the pair sharing what he wrongly believes to be an intimate moment and squares up to his giant ‘rival’ Bear. Faith puts a stop to it but Pollard storms off, leaving her fearing it’s all over between them.

Sally Dexter, who plays Faith, says, ‘Pollard and Faith have been trundling along happily, but through a series of misunderstandings Pollard wrongly assumes there’s some romance between Bear and Faith.

‘Faith is devastated. It looks like she’s lost the man in her life. She feels bereft – and extremely concerned about where she’s going to keep all her clothes! But she won’t give up without a fight.’

Faith and Pollard have been dating for more than a year, but recently she’s been sharing cosy chats with Bear – her son-in-law Paddy’s father. It’s all perfectly innocent – apart from him once trying to kiss her – as they’ve been discussing their unborn grandchild.

‘There’s nothing going on, and Faith is distraught that Pollard thinks there is,’ says Sally.

As Bear puts on a wrestling display for Paddy’s birthday, Pollard challenges him to a fight but Faith stands between them. ‘ She’s alarmed because Pollard is liable to be beaten to a pulp,’ says Sally.

Humiliated, Pollard stomps off leaving Faith fearing she’s lost her man and her home. The next day a glamorous Faith struts into the Woolpack ‘dressed up to the nines’ in an attempt to win him back.

Sally says, ‘There’s a wonderful

stage direction in the script that says, “She approaches Pollard like Cleopatra entering Rome.” She raises an eyebrow, lowers her head, and struts model-like towards him.’

Does it work? ‘Not in the way she’d like,’ says Sally. ‘We’ll have to wait and see if they stay together.’

Sally enjoys her on-screen partnership with Pollard actor Chris Chittell, who was recently awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. ‘Their pairing offers great fun and comedy,’ she says. ‘We

are all so proud of Chris for the award. He does a great deal of charity work and cares for people on set.’

Sally’s been on the show for two years, splitting her time between London and Leeds, and is delighted to be a fully established member of the Dingle clan. ‘The Dingles are popular because they’re fun, down to earth and true to themselves. They’re refreshingly real. And we’re genuinely close to each other off and on the set. It feels like family.’