Charity falsifies devastating illness in Emmerdale to hide a crushing secret

Poor Charity is suffering in silence. (Picture: ITV)

Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) is going through hell, but she’s not about to tell her family that. Not when she’s dealing with a devil like Doctor Todd (Caroline Harker).

The evil GP has been relentlessly targeting Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) with a toxic campaign workplace bullying in the hospital. But recently, she’s found a new target.

Todd was the one who discovered the mother of all bombshells that Charity’s been determined not to drop – that the surrogate baby, Leyla, who she carried for her step-granddaughter  Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) and Jacob, is actually the result of a one night stand with Ross Barton (Michael Parr).

It goes without saying that this secret getting out would blow up Charity’s family, not to mention her marriage to Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), 

Todd knew full well how desperate Charity was to keep this secret under-wraps secret. So the not-so-good Doctor blackmailed her, demanding an escalating sum that reached one hundred grand.

Charity’s up against the demon Doctor. (Picture: ITV)

With Sarah’s 21st birthday round the corner, a frantic Charity became desperate trying to find a way to pay off Todd before the celebrations were ruined. Her only hope was convincing Kim Tate (Claire King) to buy her shares in the Woolpack in Emmerdale. But that went pair shaped when Kim pulled out of the deal.

Charity failed to convince Kim to bail her out. (Picture: ITV)

So Charity resorted to a classic Dingle solution – crime. She and a reluctant Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) broke into Home Farm to steal from the safe and pay off Todd stealing money from the safe and giving it to Caitlin.

Unfortunately, they were caught by Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick), who let them go without saying a word to Kim.

Charity’s attempt to rob Home Farm to pay off Todd went very awry. (Picture: ITV)

Despite Chas’ insistence on telling Sarah the truth, Charity secretly plotted to rob the depot by stealing keys from Noah Dingle (Jack Downham). She and Chas learned that Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) had realised that someone had robbed nicked items from a box, and then called Caleb Miligan (William Ash) about it. Charity managed to secure £30k from the depot robbery and handed it to Doctor Todd.

But it wasn’t enough.Todd threatened Charity with exposing the secret at Sarah’s birthday unless she coughs up the rest of the cash.

Overwhelmed with guilt and drinking heavily, Charity called Todd’s bluff on Sarah’s big day and dared her to expose the secret. Seemingly unable to publicly destroy Sarah’s life, Todd reluctantly backed down and feebly attempted to justify her blackmail to Charity admitting to enjoying her chaotic life. Todd implied the secret is safe.

Charity called Todd’s bluff. (Picture: ITV)

But it wasn’t long before Todd’s monstrous true nature resurfaced. Then the unthinkable happened. Charity was subjected to a sexual assault from Doctor Todd.

Now in upcoming episodes of Emmerdale, Charity will hide her harrowing ordeal from those closest to her by tragically faking a serious mental condition.

When Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) drops by to check on her, Charity feels the need to hide the truth, seeing as Manpreet is good friends with Doctor Todd. So she tells the heartbreaking like that her breakdown is due to who lies that her breakdown is postnatal depression. Manpreet prescribes medication and leaves Charity, feeling utterly alone in her latest lie.

Charity fakes post-natal depression to conceal the truth from Manpreet. (Picture: ITV)

When Mack returns, Charity is upset to learn he has told Sarah about her troubles. Once alone, it’s concerning to see her wash some sleeping pills down with wine.

The next day, Sarah is consumed with guilt. Guilty, believing her gran’s presumed postnatal depression is a result of being her surrogate. But she’s left desperately wanting to know more when a numb Charity suggests there’s “more going on”.

Charity struggles to share her real pain with her step-granddaughter, deflecting the conversation back to PND and her lack of sleep.

Mack later consoles a distraught Sarah who sobs, blaming the surrogacy for all Charity’s emotional pain.

Mack and Sarah have no idea what’s really causing Charity’s depression. (Picture: ITV)

In the instalments to come, Charity will struggle to come to terms with the sexual assault,feeling uinable to confide in her loved ones and forced to internatlise the trauma.

Emmerdale ProducerSophie Roper highlighted the importance of this storyline: ‘Charity’s storyline will explore the impact of sexual violence, and though this heinous act is fundamentally about power, we’ll explore the complexities of how Charity processes her trauma when the perpetrator is a woman.

‘With little conversation surrounding female-on-female assault, we’ll explore the overwhelming feelings of isolation many survivors experience and will examine the disparity between the legal term sexual assault and the fact that many women in Charity’s position feel this minimises what’s happened to them, because they feel like they’ve been raped.’

‘Though difficult viewing at times, Charity’s resilience will inspire hope as she confronts what has happened to her.’

Emma Atkins hopes the story will encourage more people to speak out. (Picture: ITV)

Star Emma Atkins, who plays Charity, reflected on her own experience filming these challenging scenes so far: ‘This has been one of the most demanding and significant storylines I’ve had to navigate as Charity. We know her as a tough, resilient character, but this trauma will expose a deep, raw vulnerability that has been heartbreaking at times to play. 

‘I hope this storyline gives even one person the courage to speak out or helps others understand the quiet devastation of trauma.’

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