Marlon & Carly – over and out?
As both Marlon and Carly get close to their exes, Mark Charnock and Gemma Atkinson are keeping their fingers crossed that their characters can work things out...
Inside Soap is usually all in favour of hunky men in our favourite shows – but when handsome newcomer Matt rocked up in Emmerdale and caused friction in Carly’s relationship with Marlon, we were less than impressed! Sure, he’s charming and good-looking, and he just wants to know the truth about what happened to his little boy Billy… but Marlon was about to propose to Carly, and Matt ruined everything!
This week, Marlon again gears up to pop the question, only for Matt to get in the way a second time. The incident leaves Marlon seeking comfort from Laurel, while Carly and Matt grow closer – but according to stars Mark Charnock and Gemma Atkinson, we shouldn’t give up on Marlon and Carly’s relationship yet…
Hey guys! We really love Marlon and Carly together. Why do you think people are rooting for them?
Gemma Marlon and Carly are just an average couple. There are so many couples who on paper shouldn’t work, but they do, and that’s what makes them so likeable. I think people relate to that kind of relationship.
Mark They’re genuinely in love.
But Carly has had her head turned by Matt’s arrival, hasn’t she?
Gemma Well, no matter where they go in life, they’ll have this bond because they had a child together. And whether the child is around or not, that’s a bond for life, so that is something that instantly draws them together. But there are little flickers where Carly looks at Matt for a bit longer than she should, and feels quite comfortable around him when she shouldn’t…
How does Marlon feel about Matt?
Mark He has a moment of insecurity, because this good-looking, charismatic Irishman turns up, and next to him is this middle-aged, gangly guy saying, “That’s my girlfriend”! But Marlon is a good enough bloke to realise that Matt needs to help fix Carly so that she and Marlon can move on. He gives Carly and Matt the space they need to deal with it.
Does Carly have any idea that Marlon is planning to propose?
Gemma She has no idea! She doesn’t even know he’s thinking about it. From the audience point of view, it’s sweet to watch Marlon, but it’s also sad because it shows how in love he is with Carly. To propose to someone is nerve-wracking, and to do it under the pressure of having their ex back in their life must make things very difficult.
Carly agrees to get involved with Matt’s latest business venture. Why does she do that?
Gemma Firstly she needs money, and secondly she knows this will be her final time with Matt, so she thinks, ‘Why not?’. She’s already told Matt that he has to go, because her priorities are Marlon and April. But she’s happy to have a bit of time together before he does.
Sadly for Carly, Marlon sees her and Matt together and jumps to the wrong conclusion!
Gemma Part of the reason Carly needs some money is for a little surprise that she’s planning for Marlon, so she’s doing it to be sweet. She thinks she’ll get the money, arrange the surprise and it will all be amazing. But Marlon sees her talking to Matt when she’s told him that she’s meeting Tracy, so she just comes across to him as a liar.
Mark Marlon is at a low ebb when Carly goes off with Matt. He’s really desperately sad, because he thinks Carly is betraying him at this point.
Is that why Marlon turns to Laurel for support?
Mark Yeah, because they’re friends. Despite everything they’ve been through, they’re still close – I think they’re each other’s go-to person in times of crisis. He’s insecure about Carly and Matt, and Laurel tries to get it out of him. There’s a sequence where you see Matt and Carly together in the car, getting closer, and you also see Marlon and Laurel getting closer…
Yikes! Marlon isn’t going to cheat on Carly with Laurel, is he?
Mark Well, if you remember a few months ago, Laurel went to kiss Marlon when she was suffering with Ashley. So they’re a security blanket for each other. The leaning in and possible kiss is him seeking some kind of purchase in the world – it’s familiarity. Laurel is a rock sticking out of the ocean.
“Laurel and Marlon are each other’s go-to person in times of crisis” MARK
If Marlon found out that Carly had cheated on him with Matt, would he be able to forgive her? Mark Whatever she does to him, it’s forgivable because of what she’s been through already. It has to be. I think it would snap him in two, but he’s at an age where you don’t just throw your toys out of the pram and walk away. Do you think there’s hope that these two will eventually get engaged?
Mark They’re mates above all else. Yes they’re in love and they have a romantic life, but they just get each other and they’re best mates, so I don’t think Marlon would ever want to lose that.
Gemma I think once Matt’s out of the picture, Carly and Marlon can carry on. She’ll get closure over Billy, and hopefully they can have their happy ever after…