Emmerdale actor Chris Chittell has proposed a theory that Val Pollard could still be alive.

Val was seemingly killed by a falling shard of glass in a collapsed funfair ride during Emmerdale’s “Disaster Week”, when a helicopter crashed in the village destroying Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle’s wedding day.

Chris, who plays Val’s widower Eric Pollard, said to actress Charlie Hardwick: “The way it was left, you were taken out from a maze of mirrors with your face covered by a sheet.

Chris Chittell (right) arriving for the Inside Soap Awards 2015 at DSTRKT
Chis Chittell has a theory (Ian West/PA)

“Nobody saw your face after that. Allegedly Pollard went to identify the body but we didn’t see the scene. Maybe he couldn’t actually force himself to,” before adding: “Watch his space!”

Meanwhile, Charlie interjected: “Who are you? Agatha Christie?”

Chris and Charlie both won the Inside Soap Award for Best Partnership for playing Eric and Val, and they said it “feels great” to be given the accolade.

Charlie Hardwick and Chris Chittell (right) arriving for the Inside Soap Awards 2015 at DSTRKT, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION
The couple were delighted with their awards (Ian West/PA)

Meanwhile, Chris also expanded on the current storyline between his character and on-screen son David Metcalfe. After destroying David’s shop, Pollard has handed him a cheque and severed all contact.

“I think worse before it gets better,” he said of how Pollard and David’s relationship would play out in the coming months.

On what will happen to Pollard this Christmas, Chris teased that he might turn over a new leaf next year. “It’s an opportunity, isn’t it? Maybe we might see a difference in Pollard, who knows?” he teased.