Hope in Emmerdale Julie Lordan meets Tony Audenshaw, who plays Bob Hope in the series

Will a misplaced letter sabotage any chance of love for Bob and Wendy?

What it is about Wendy that has drawn Bob to her?

Firstly, she lives right next door, ideal! He felt for her when she first moved in and was being victimised by Aaron and then they bonded more when he shared that they had both lost children. She’s nice company to be around – capable, strong, self-sufficient, very attractive – and best of all… single!

Wendy has written a letter to Bob, outlining her feelings. Can you explain how it ends up in Rishi’s hands?

Wendy works at the surgery with Manpreet and confides her feelings about Bob to her. Manpreet becomes distracted when she is supposed to be putting the love letter in Bob’s health-check envelope and puts it in her husband Rishi’s instead. Ouch!

Rishi shows Bob the letter – how does Bob feel, thinking that Wendy has fallen for Rishi?

It’s a lovely letter about harbouring feelings for someone and politely wondering if the other person feels the same way. He feels foolish that he thought he had a chance and is hurt and a bit jealous that it’s one of his mates she’s fallen for. The fact she’d rather see a married man than him stings too.

Wendy approaches Bob, having not had a response from the letter. What does she say to him, and what is Bob’s response?

She asks if he has seen the letter and what he thinks about its contents. He can’t believe she is being so brazen and blinkered to how he might feel when he has made it obvious, in the past, that he’d like to take things further. He’s also had first-hand experience of how destructive an affair can be and is amazed she is being so flippant about the consequences of a relationship with Rishi, a married man.

Doesn’t he notice that she is upset?

He just doesn’t want to know. He’s reeling from the fact he appears to have misjudged her so much. How could he have got it so wrong?

If Bob and Wendy do sort things out, what would he bring into her life, and vice versa?

I think he’d help her find a path through her grief and the awful situation of trusting and defending your child, protesting their innocence (as most parents would) and then finding out they were guilty. Doubly difficult with such an awful crime and no chance to discuss it with them to get closure. I think she’d bring him company, a few laughs and a new appreciation of large dogs!