Emmerdale star Mark Charnock talks Marlon Dingle's role in special episode
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Emmerdale star Mark Charnock has opened up about Marlon Dingle's role in the soap's upcoming 'face your fears' special episode.
The new episode will see Rhona Goskirk grow frustrated with her loved ones – namely Marlon, Mary and Paddy – amid their issues, and organise a day to tackle things head on.
It comes amid Marlon's stroke recovery, as he's challenged to face his fears of driving next week, Mark admitting that his character is "terrified" about facing up to things.
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"All three of them are," he explained. "None of them want to deal with their issues.
"There is this really good scene where we see how it is affecting Rhona. As the three people she is closest to are all suffering psychologically and it’s taking its toll on her. It’s a triple hit on her really. None of them want to do it... But she drags them through the mud and into the clear water."
Despite this, Marlon is "hopeful", Mark saying: "He wants that independence back and he wants to prove to his friends that he’s not totally reliant on them. And that they don’t have to be there at every turn. So yes he is hopeful."
Related: Emmerdale star Louise Jameson reveals turning point in Mary's storyline
Mark said he is "pleased he’s finally getting to grips with it", adding: "He needs that push from the person he trusts most and who won't let him suffer. She is the one in the end who pushes him across the finish line."
Speaking further about whether it is good to do things that are daunting, the actor suggested: "That is entirely dependent on what it is. I don’t think you can say it as a general rule. People deal with exorcising their fears in different ways.
"For example, for me the idea of going on a roller coaster would worsen my anxiety around heights. But I think watching a horror film does perhaps exorcise your fears.
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"I think psychoanalysts would likely say that watching a horror film in some ways is good as it exorcises so many physiological demons.
"But you are living out the fears in the safe environment of your sitting room. Whereas on a rollercoaster - you are not in the safety of your sitting room but rattling around at a very high speed on a very high thing. I think it’s not going to stop you feeling frightened. So for me it is entirely dependent on the circumstances and what your actual fear is."
Mark also spoke about facing his own fears in the past, recalling: "I did the singing show at Christmas on ITV called Britain Get Singing and we were singing in a group. I’m not a singer and even though I wasn’t singing solo I was really really nervous.
"But do you know what? Going through it was an amazing process. I was working with six other members of the Emmerdale cast who were extremely supportive and kind. So I suppose it was not unlike Marlon going through his driving ordeal and finding strength in group support."
The star said the support from his cast mates was "amazing", adding: "By the end of it I almost couldn’t wait to do it. Which was an amazing transformation that happened over 72 hours and purely down to the people I did it with.
"It was a big deal for me, I will never be a singer but getting up there and doing that partially because it was for a good cause. But it was really good for me in terms of thinking if I can do this - other stuff that gives me anxiety I can likely deal with as well.
"Recently I have done karaoke, granted it was in front of a small limited audience but I did it," he added. "I sang terribly but I really enjoyed it. I'm just saying that Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ has never been done worse by anybody in history!"
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage.
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