Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper has confirmed that newcomer Serena Sugden will remain at the centre of the drama as the show works to re-establish the Sugden family legacy. Serena, played by Casey Al-Shaqsy, arrived in the village earlier this year in search of her distant cousin Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), and her presence has already had a significant impact on the community.
Serena's Role in the Village
Since her arrival, Serena has become a key support for Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), who was facing a personal crisis while keeping a number of secrets. Roper praised Serena as a 'really fantastic new character' and explained that the show is 'absolutely re-establishing our wonderful clans and the Sugdens being a huge part of the show and the rural community that we enjoy and celebrate'.
Serena's police background has also been a notable element of her character, particularly in her interactions with Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) and Charity. Roper highlighted the dynamic between the three women, describing them as 'incredibly strong women all holding their own in how you deal with this impossible situation that presents'.
Trust and Morality
The producer noted that Serena is 'an incredibly moral character' and that there is 'a lot of trust between these three women that we potentially will go on to test as the story develops'. She added that Serena's involvement 'absolutely embeds her in the Sugden clan and embeds her in that relationship between Sarah and Serena as Sugdens'.
Serena is currently involved in the aftermath of the death of Dr Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker). Sarah pushed Todd during a confrontation, causing her to hit her head and die. Charity, Sarah's grandmother, immediately told the police that she killed Todd in order to protect Sarah.
Charity's Future
Roper also spoke about Charity's long history on the show and the importance of remembering who she is at heart when planning her next storylines. She said that Charity 'has had some journey on this show over all of her years with us' and that the joy of the character is that 'she grows'.
While acknowledging that Charity 'doesn't always learn' and has 'made some similar mistakes over the years', Roper explained that her actions in this storyline are 'all coming from a place of love and that need to protect family'. She added that there will always be stories for Charity because she is 'such a dynamic individual and she's so driven by love, loyalty and family'.
'We will test her. There will be things that she has to overcome, but she's somebody that, I don't want to say we've barely scratched the surface, but there is so much more that I'd love to learn about that character, to see her tackle as an actor and as a character on the show,' Roper said. 'So, it's pressure on us to make sure we can keep finding those brilliant and dynamic stories for her. It's a challenge, but one I think we'll relish.'
