Emmerdale’s Marlon Dingle star Mark Charnock ‘neurotic’ about job as soap loses big names

As Emmerdale’s legendary Marlon Dingle, actor Mark Charnock has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most hard-hitting storylines over three decades.

From suffering a stroke two years ago and watching his first wife, Tricia, die after a storm hit the Woolpack in 2003, to getting caught up with Rhona’s embryo controversy, drama has followed Marlon since Mark, now 56, was told he had landed the part on his 28th birthday in 1996.

After Marlon’s 16-year-old daughter April vanished on Christmas Day, he now has an involvement in a terrifying plot.

The hard-working, likeable star describes the powerful drama as one of the most ­challenging, not to mention one of the most significant, storylines he has worked on.

He has been conducting research for the role with the publication’s Christmas Appeal, Missing People.

Mark is hoping that the tragedy of April, combined with our appeal, will raise awareness and money for the charity so that more families who are searching for a loved one can find help. Every year, there are 75, 000 missing children in the UK.

Mark states in an exclusive interview that “I saw the Mirror’s outstanding work for Missing People when they chose the charity as their Christmas Appeal.” Between this storyline and the Mirror, we can hopefully raise money for the charity to help more families who need immediate assistance.

I can’t even begin to imagine the suffering that parents experience when their children go missing, according to the saying, “A child going missing is psychological torture.”

“That endless empty desperation is horrendous. It is delayed grief, exhaustion all the time, there is never a moment of respite. The entire world turns into a place of suffering.

Because Marlon values family above all else, this is one of the most significant and memorable stories I’ve heard. This would be very high up in my Emmerdale career.

A soap can, according to Mark, reveal in revealing little-known detail the trauma that so many devastated families experience each year.

” Soaps are unique, “says Mark”. You can depict the individual experiences of people. If it were a film, you would only see the dramatic highlights. We can show what transpires day in and day out, which soaps do best.

He explains today why he still enjoys playing Marlon, explaining that one of the things that helps viewers realize they are not alone is. He claims it is mind-blowing that his character has been a part of Emmerdale for so long even though he is now in his 29th year.

” What an amazing run of luck. Every moment of my 28 years on the show has been my favorite. And what makes it so fantastic is that it constantly changes, is never unexpected, and keeps you on your toes, “he says.

Although Mark, who was born in Bolton, is known for keeping his private life a secret, his parents have always been upbeat about how proud of their work. They still watch every episode.

” In fact, if I haven’t been in a few episodes, they ask, ‘ When are you back in it? ‘”chuckles Mark”. Mum and Dad are really proud. “

Not that he assumes that the soap’s future is certain to be a success. A number of high-profile stars have left over recent months, including Daisy Campbell, 21, who had played Amelia Spencer since she was eight years old. Paula Lane, Susan Cookson, Roxy Shahidi, and Lesley Dunlop are said to be leaving shortly, amid what some fans online have dubbed a ‘ cull’.

You can never take it for granted and never know until you receive your next contract, Mark says.

“I am a terrible worrier. I keep muttering lines as I drive home, trying to recall how they were played out. Emmerdale is a fantastic show to work on, despite the fact that I am a little neurotic.

A turnover of characters is normal, according to Emmerdale, but it has failed to allay concerns expressed by fans on social media regarding the recent wave of departures.

Mark is not particularly worrying because he has undoubtedly had an impact in the Dales.

When his wife Tricia passed away in 2003 and his character had a devastating stroke, he has won numerous prestigious awards, including an outstanding achievement award in 2023 and two for best dramatic performance.

“When Marlon lost his wife, it changed everything” says the star. “It gave Marlon an emotional life that he didn’t have before”.

After reflecting on the impact Marlon’s stroke had on raising awareness two years ago, Mark continues, “We worried that people who have been through it may not be able to relate to it.”

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“But it turned out that people could understand how devastated it was, and how it made me feel like we had spoken to them. “Yet as Mark points out, there have also been many comedic moments. In fact at the beginning, he recalls, his character was mostly only involved in lighter scenes.

Because the storylines were primarily comedy-based, Mark says, “This April missing storyline would have unlikely to have occurred in my early years.”

He is gearing up for the holidays and is now feeling refreshed from his two-week break with the cast and crew. Although Mark won’t say whether April will be found, he makes fun of the storyline’s potential for more obscene turns and turns.

He claims, “I do have an enormous sense of responsibility knowing that people are going through this.” This film’s storyline was complex. When you are filming six or seven scenes a day showing Marlon’s worry, it has obviously been challenging. Anyone would find it emotional as well.

Smiling, he says he is immensely proud of Amelia Flanagan, who plays April. “She has been unbelievable”, he declares. “It’s been fascinating to watch her grow as an actress. She has really captured this narrative. I can take lessons from her because she is incredible.

Mark made his directorial debut with a short film about loneliness for Good Morning Britain last year to encourage viewers to give up time with those who are lonely.

The star continues, “It was absolutely amazing and came completely out of the blue.” GMB were extremely helpful despite the fact that it was incredibly scary. I loved the experience”.

Would he like to work on his directorial debut? Millions of viewers will be relieved to learn that he wants to concentrate on playing Marlon in the soap. He claims that if I said I didn’t mind doing it again because it’s strangely addictive but not for the minute, I’d be lying.

As he returns to the missing storyline, Mark hopes, as with the Mirror’s campaign, it will bring comfort to the many thousands of parents sadly going through Marlon’s hell.

“My experience is only fictional”, says Mark softly. “I hope that the experience of those going through this will be resolved as effectively as possible.” I have nothing but sympathy, and it must be absolutely awful.

Source: Mirror