Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper has confirmed that Charity Dingle and Vanessa Woodfield will not be getting back together romantically, delivering disappointing news for fans of the former couple. Speaking at a recent Emmerdale event in Leeds, Roper instead backed Charity's marriage to Mackenzie Boyd, saying the couple will be tested but will fight to find a way through their latest ordeal.
Charity's recent struggles
Charity, played by Emma Atkins, has faced a challenging period in the ITV soap. She agreed to act as a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) and her husband Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant), only to discover she was expecting her biological child with Ross Barton (Michael Parr) after a one-night encounter.
Dr Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker) then extorted Charity for months over the secret, culminating in a devastating sexual assault, just months before the doctor was accidentally killed by Sarah. Shortly before the killing, Charity confessed to her husband Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) about Leyla's parentage and her one-night stand with Ross, creating tension between the couple.
Producer's verdict on Charity and Mack
Roper outlined the impact that Todd's death would have on Charity and Mack, saying: "It will test them. This is a relationship where I feel Mack is often the one that's having to respond to potentially bad decisions that his wife has made."
She added: "I think what I can say is they're an incredibly strong couple. And we will fight for them to find a way through it, because I think, for everything that Charity's been through, for everything that they've done to one another, it's been a really dramatic marriage and a dramatic relationship."
Friendship remains a fixture
While Vanity supporters may be heartbroken, Roper reassured that Charity and Vanessa's friendship will remain a key part of the show. "I think that relationship's a really important one on the show," she acknowledged.
"I mean, obviously years ago there was a romantic connection there, but I think we've really earned the friendship that those two women have. I think Vanessa being a support to Charity through this story, there's some really powerful material, and I think it's why we love that friendship and love those connections that we've built on the show. So, she'll [definitely] formulate a part of the ongoing story."
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
