RHONA’S LAST CHRISTMAS?

Will Emmerdale’s vet leave the village for good with lover Graham by her side? We ask actress Zoe Henry

emmerdale’s Rhona Goskirk believes she’s found her ideal man and at the same time landed the perfect job away from the village – but is she being duped? This week, Rhona and Graham Foster pledge their love for each other, and with the vet believing she’s been headhunted by a practice in France, the couple are considering moving to there with her son Leo.

‘Rhona’s contacted by a guy called Noel, who makes her a very attractive offer,’ explains actress Zoe Henry, who’s played her since 2001. ‘Emmerdale has been her permanent home for ten years but it’s now hostile towards her. She’s having run-ins with people, particularly Kim Tate, so this job is a chance for a new start.’

But with manipulative Kim having vowed revenge after losing former husband Graham to Rhona – and wanting the pair out of her life – could the offer have come from her?

‘Graham smells a rat,’ she says. ‘He thinks it’s too convenient – Rhona wants to leave the village, and lo and behold here’s a guy with an amazing offer. So Graham roughs Noel up.’

With Rhona having previously been the victim of domestic abuse, she hates violence, and Graham’s actions threaten their relationship.

But, says Zoe, ‘while Rhona and Graham are rowing, Graham blurts out, “That’s how you feel when you find love”. It takes her breath away. Then she finds a letter that shows Graham has enrolled Leo, who has Down’s syndrome, in a football camp for kids with learning difficulties, and it melts her heart that he’s done this wonderful thing. He says, “I love you”, and Rhona reciprocates.’

This leads the pair to consider leaving the Dales. ‘Rhona’s probably not brave enough to make that move with

just Leo,’ says Zoe, 46, who’s married to co-star Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain Dingle. ‘But Graham makes her feel safe. He’s up for it. The village doesn’t offer him much. Kim is a thorn in his side that’ll never go away, so he needs to leave.’

However, should the job turn out to be linked to Kim, Zoe says that would be the end of that. ‘If Rhona discovered Kim was pulling the strings, she’d turn it down. She’d be fuming. She can’t stand her.’

Rhona also has to deal with the

issue of taking Leo away from his father, Marlon Dingle. ‘Rather than confront it, she’s sticking her head in the sand. But, as in any soap, Marlon will find out.’ Could that happen on Christmas Day, with Marlon having been invited to spend it with them?

‘In Rhona’s head, she’ll be dancing around the Christmas tree,’ says Zoe. ‘Being an eternal optimist she’s thrilled about the future. But you’ll have to watch to find out whether she ends up crying into her turkey.’ ■