Emmerdale promises summer blockbuster of a plot

John Whiston said he had to watch some upcoming scenes through his fingers – even though he knows what is going to happen.

Speaking in Emmerdale’s village hall, John said the soap had all the elements for an “incredible summer”.

He said: “Secrets: check; jealously: check; love: check; sex: check; cans of petrol: check.

“Yes, we’re all set for another incredible summer of secrets and infidelity on Emmerdale.”

John was speaking at a media day on the set of Emmerdale, where cast members enjoyed afternoon tea and took part in team games, including sheep and pig racing, hay bale relays and welly wanging.

Among the upcoming storylines is the developing love triangle between Debbie Dingle and brothers Ross and Pete Barton, which is played out amid the preparations for Debbie and Pete’s village wedding.

“The Pete, Debbie, Ross triangle has been superbly played,” John said.

“Although I know exactly what’s going to happen for the next six months, I’ve been watching this storyline unfold almost between my fingers. It’s like a slow-motion train crash, without any trains.”

Viewers will also find out how Chrissie Sugden reacts when she finds out about husband Robert’s infidelity with lover Aaron Livesy and local businessman Jai Sharma’s affair with Leyla Harding being exposed.

John also praised the recent storyline involving Laurel Dingle’s descent into alcoholism.

“Some of the most memorable moments in Emmerdale have come from this storyline,” he said.

“A combination of fantastic storylining, brilliant scripts and heartbreaking acting has made this one of the most gripping descents into the embrace of alcoholism I have seen on screen.”

Meanwhile, Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel, has spoken about how her battle with alcohol in the soap has helped members of the public.

Charlotte said she hoped the storyline would raise awareness about the issue. And she said she thought it was “amazing” when she received a message telling her a woman had sought help for her own alcohol problem after watching the soap.

Charlotte said: “She said she wanted to pass a message on because after watching the programme she realised she had a problem and she’s gone to see somebody.

“When you get a text like that you think ‘that’s amazing’ because we’ve made people aware that there is help out there, they’re not alone, the shame that it can bring on a mother, on a woman in that situation. That was a really positive text really, it’s about bringing awareness to something like alcoholism.”

Mark Charnock, who plays Bellamy’s on-screen husband Marlon Dingle, added: “It’s a disease, you look at the stats in this country and it’s unbelievable.

“I hope it will make people who don’t realise they’re heading in that direction maybe think twice because it just creeps up on you and suddenly it’s there, right in the middle of your family.”