The Soap Years

Her twisted plan to sabotage Leyla’s romance is sure to backfire on Gabby, says Emmerdale’s Rosie Bentham

The storylines time will never forget

Gabby goes to extreme lengths to get close to Leyla this week – by wrecking her relationship with Liam. The loner student – whose father is dead and mum lives in Australia – has tried to cure her feelings of isolation by growing close to her boss. And she thinks getting rid of doctor Liam will make Leyla gravitate towards her.

Actress Rosie Bentham, who’s portrayed Emmerdale’s Gabby since January 2016, thinks her plotting won’t end here. ‘Gabby hasn’t got anyone – she feels like she needs a maternal influence, and craves attention,’ explains Rosie, 19. ‘Her plan is to protect her new friendship with Leyla, and it’s clear she’s open to sabotaging anything she needs to.

‘But she doesn’t think about the consequences. While what she does initially brings her closer to Leyla, I don’t think Gabby’s lying and playing about will ease – and in soaps, secrets don’t stay secret for long.’

Gabby previously blamed Leyla for driving her mother Bernice away, and secretly stalked her. After Leyla found out Gabby was behind a hate campaign, she took the troubled girl under her wing and hired her as an apprentice for her wedding company Take A Vow. A delighted Gabby has since started copying Leyla’s style and the way she speaks. This week she sends flowers to Meena pretending they’re from Liam.

Rosie says, ‘Gabby doesn’t want Leyla and Liam together, and uses Meena as a pawn – she’s young and attractive. The flowers bring out Leyla’s insecurities, realising she doesn’t trust Liam as much as she thought.’

Gabby will capitalise on Leyla’s doubts by telling Meena she overheard Liam singing her praises. This

leads Meena to reject his supposed advances in front of Leyla, who declares their relationship over.

‘Gabby’s plan works, as Leyla confides in Gabby,’ says Rosie. ‘She doesn’t like seeing Leyla upset but can’t afford to lose her – without her she’ll lose her job and be on her own again. Unfortunately, Gabby doesn’t think about how Liam will react, which could be her downfall.’

Rosie followed in the footsteps of co-stars Lucy Pargeter (Chas) and James Hooton (Sam) by training at

Nottingham’s Television Workshop. ‘I’ve always loved acting,’ she says. ‘I wouldn’t behave like Gabby myself, so I like exploring how others behave.’

She landed the part while still at school. ‘It was scary,’ she says. ‘It took time to settle in, as I’d never been on screen before. It was a big change, but I quickly matured.’

Now, almost five years in, Rosie is being given some meaty storylines. ‘I’m so chuffed,’ she says. ‘I want to do the writers proud.’ ■