Julie Lordan has all the details
Rosie Bentham, who plays Gabby Thomas in Emmerdale, talks about the latest developments in Gabby’s life and how a big mistake could badly misfire
Just now, Emmerdale’s Gabby omas is stealing from Kim Tate, an unusual spot for the reliably ruthless Kim to be in. However, her health is very fragile at the moment and Gabby is taking advantage to bene t her own needs. Kim believes she has dementia, but viewers know better: she is being poisoned by someone, who is spiking her brandy. Of course, there will be hell to pay when Kim nds out who it is. As yet, the poisoner’s identity is a mystery, but Gabby should watch out, because Kim has already cottoned on to the fact that she is cheating her out of funds. It doesn’t help that Gabby tries to pretend that Kim gave her the money and she just doesn’t remember. Nice try, Gabby, as suspicion rises that she could be the poisoner too.
Does Rosie Bentham think that Gabby feels any guilt about stealing from Kim? “Well, when Kim suspects Gabby of taking money, Gabby becomes very patronising and suggests to Kim that she is losing her memory and just can’t remember giving her permission to take the money. Gabby is relieved that Kim believes her, but then when she apologises for accusing her wrongly, that does really make Gabby feel guilty,” says Rosie.
Gabby could be a little more subtle about her actions. But no, she is sitting around in front of Kim in new designer clothes, bought with Kim’s cash. No wonder Kim is suspicious. “Well, in a way, Gabby is just having a bit of fun. Greed took over,” says Rosie, “and because she is pregnant (with Kim’s grandchild), Gabby feels she is entitled to some pampering.”
Typical Gabby really, in that she didn’t think it through. She doesn’t seem to realise that Jamie (Kim’s son) thinks something is not quite right, even going so far as to tell Noah to spy on Gabby and keep an eye out for odd behaviour. “When Noah is always looking at Gabby, curious about her, hanging around the house, she actually thinks he is interested in her in a romantic way!” says Rosie. She could be right, of course, because when Gabby does nd out the truth – she catches him looking through her laptop – Gabby irts with him and easily gets him to confess as to his true motive, and manages to get him on her side, for the time being that is.
Rosie explains. “Gabby is quite conniving and it’s really been fun to play, because you never know what is going to happen when someone is so devious.”
But even in her fragile state, it’s not a good idea to try and fool Kim. It all comes to a head when Kim nally discovers, with Jamie’s help, that Gabby is not to be trusted. Rosie continues: “Jamie accuses Gabby of manipulating Kim. He tells Kim to call the police and it all kicks o . ere’s tears and shouting, and Gabby then has no choice but to confess. She’s broken, upset and ashamed that she let it get to this point. It wasn’t a plan that she had; it was just opportunistic and a bit of fun. Gabby really struggles to defend herself and just begs for Kim’s forgiveness.”
Rosie is aware of how much Gabby needs Kim. If not for Kim, she would be le in a very vulnerable state, so it was a foolish risk
Gabby is quite conniving and fun to play, she is so devious
to make an enemy of her. Rosie agrees. “Yes, but Gabby’s true motive was to protect herself and her baby. Kim is handing everything to Gabby on a plate, but if that changed, she’d be penniless and back to her old life, which is not what she wants,” she comments.
Kim’s mantra in life is to take. She has told Gabby to take everything in life that she can, so Gabby focused on that in this bubble of greed.
It is now essential for Gabby to get Kim’s trust again. But she knows it will be an uphill battle, especially with Jamie urging Kim not to trust her any more. “Kim nding out the truth is the knock that Gabby didn’t need. If Kim can’t forgive her, then she’s back to square one – a pregnant 19-year-old with hardly any career. She needs to win back Kim’s trust. Knowing Gabby, she’ll work her way around it, I think. She has too much to lose if she can’t,” says Rosie.
Of course, now that viewers have seen how sly Gabby is, and what she is capable of, there is the suspicion that she might be the mystery poisoner. Rosie freely admits to her character’s faults. “Yeah, she is a very likely suspect, Gabby can be really unkind and very greedy, as we have seen. And if Kim is forgetful, we know that Gabby can work that to her advantage, and maybe she is thinking of what else she could do,” says Rosie.
At the end of the day, though, Rosie thinks that Gabby is still in awe of Kim and despite her actions, she doesn’t hate her. “Yeah, Gabby knows that lodging with Kim gets her some respect in the village, and she is impressed with Kim’s wealth. She just made a very stupid mistake I think,” says Rosie.
Now, to add to the chaos, Gabby’s mum, Bernice, returns. “I am so glad to have Sam (Samantha Giles) back. She just brings so much fun and excitement to the set,” says Rosie. “Gabby has a whole lot of explaining to do in terms of how she has coped without Bernice and all that has been happening. Especially being pregnant at 19,” says Rosie. “Not quite sure if Bernice expected to be a grandma!” Rosie expects the relationship between Kim and Bernice to be dramatic. “For sure, it’s going to be quite ery,” says Rosie. “I can imagine Gabby being pulled in both directions, but I suspect that she really would love her mother to come into her life, take charge, and make Gabby feel that she is going to sort her life out for her; make up for the time lost and pay her daughter some attention. But Kim wants to be that person now, so there is de nitely going to be a clash!”
Gabby can be really unkind and very greedy