Sarah Jayne Dunn
“Mandy loves Luke and wants to help him…”
Mandy feels stupid when Luke fails his breathalyser test”
It looks as if a surprise reconciliation could be on the cards for Mandy and Luke this week, as the former couple take a trip into town with Mandy’s daughter Ella. However, the day ends in disaster after Luke inexplicably flees…
“Mandy doesn’t know what’s going on when he disappears,” sighs Sarah Jayne Dunn, who plays her. “It’s a perfect day up to that point, and she isn’t sure if she’s said something wrong, or if Luke’s had a change of heart. She’s very confused, and goes home to speak to Nancy and Darren about it.”
Luke has been begging his first love Mandy to take him back for some time now, and at the start of the week, Mandy begins to waver. Unfortunately, she still has her concerns over his drinking – and her fears are confirmed when Luke fails a breathalyser test!
“She’s kicking herself that she fell for his promises again,” says Sarah Jayne. “They’ve been through this before, where she wants to believe Luke will stop drinking, but then catches him at it.
“Of course Mandy loves Luke and she wants to help him, but his drinking is a big problem because Ella is her priority. She has to provide a safe environment for her daughter, and feels stupid when Luke fails the test.”
In spite of this obstacle, Mandy and Luke decide to embark on their day trip with Ella, and seem the happiest they’ve been in a long time. However, his unexplained exit is bound to leave Mandy questioning their future together, and may cast doubts over any possibility of them working things out.
Meanwhile, Sarah Jayne sympathises with her alter ego’s plight, and can’t decide whether Mandy should take Luke back or not…
“I think on paper they shouldn’t be together because there are so many issues,” ponders the actress. “On the flip side, they were each other’s first loves, so maybe they should! The tension between them is working really well, and I always enjoy programmes and films with a ‘will-theywon’t-they?’ story. It’s frustrating to watch, but you’re engrossed.
“I enjoy working with Gary Lucy [Luke], and I love the nostalgia and history of these characters,” adds Sarah Jayne. “But I get Mandy’s frustration and why she feels she can’t be with him.”
What has caused Luke to make his impromptu escape? And is there any hope Mandy will take him back after this?