womack and womack!

It’s a soap double act as former Eastender Samantha Womack helps husband Mark with his gritty new Emmerdale role

he hasn’t been in a soap before, but Emmerdale’s latest villain Mark Womack knows exactly what to expect – thanks to his ex-eastenders star wife.

Mark’s married to Samantha Womack – Walford favourite Ronnie Mitchell – and helped her through a busy and tumultuous decade on the BBC show from 2007.

Now Sam’s returning the favour by helping Mark learn his lines for his role as crooked detective Malone – that’s when she isn’t pulling his leg!

Mark, who’s 59 and has three children, says, ‘Sam’s never needed me to run through lines with her – she’s had a lot of practice and is one of those who’ll read four pages in two minutes and learn them. But she helped me with some of my first scenes. She said Malone was a good part, which was nice.’

But he adds, ‘She just takes the mickey out of me because I’m terrible at learning lines! She criticises me and says, “You’re not going to do it like that, are you? You can do better!” Her best soap advice to me was, “Learn the lines, don’t knock anything over, just get on with it”’.

Like Sam, Mark has an impressive CV, including 1990s ITV police series Liverpool 1 – on which the pair met – as well as BBC postmen drama Sorted in 2006.

But he says Emmerdale is a highlight – even though at first it was a culture shock. ‘Emmerdale ranks really highly,’ says the RADAtrained actor. ‘Having not done a continuing drama before, I didn’t really know what to expect and at first it took me some time to find my feet. But it’s great.’

Evil Malone has blown into the

village like a whirlwind, putting pressure on Will and Cain to commit crimes for him.

This week he learns of a double cross by Cain, and Mark hints it will eventually result in a showdown. ‘We are leading up to it, but I can’t say any more than that.’

Malone is also sure to target Will’s girlfriend, Harriet, who as an undercover police officer damaged his criminal network.

‘They haven’t met since he’s been in the village, but they will,’ says

Mark, who’s relishing the role. ‘He’s a brilliant character, really interesting – Machiavellian, cruel, manipulative.

‘I’ve played a few villains in the past and love it as they tend to be good parts. You can be charming one minute, but then horrible the next. Malone is among the worst. I like him though!’

And the same goes for Emmerdale. ‘It’s a really nice place to work, more than I would have ever expected. Everyone has been so welcoming.’