Heartbroken Emmerdale fans fear an exit is on the cards for Charity Dingle. Charity (Emma Atkins) has been a staple on the soap since 2000, becoming one of the show's most beloved characters. She has been involved in many big storylines, from her romances to the arrival of her long-lost daughter Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb).
Recent Assault Storyline
Recently, Charity was the victim of a vile sexual assault by Dr. Todd (Caroline Harker), who is blackmailing her over the true parentage of Leyla Sugden. In horrifying scenes, after Charity got drunk, Todd locked the door and sexually assaulted a passed-out Charity on the sofa. She woke up horrified, and Todd left. Since then, Charity has been struggling, and despite reporting Dr. Todd to the police, she was released due to insufficient evidence.
Fan Reactions
Now, amid the heartbreaking storyline, fans reckon Charity could be set for an exit. On an Emmerdale Facebook fan page, one person said: “Emma Atkins deserves a break after this storyline, she’s knocked it out of the park!” Another added: “I was thinking that, it’s what usually happens after a big storyline.” A third chimed in: “Same here, I don’t want her to go, though!” A fourth mused: "She'll probably go see Debbie in Australia."
Producer's Statement
Emmerdale Producer Sophie Roper explained: "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. Though difficult viewing at times, Charity's resilience will inspire hope as she confronts what has happened to her."
Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
